How to Make a RAM Drive

A Ramdisk uses the memory in your computer for fast temporary storage.

The slowest part of a computer is often the hard drive, and the wait can sometimes be agonizing when Windows needs to access many small files in quick succession. To alleviate this problem, consider creating a RAM disk, which uses the computer's memory for fast temporary storage. Microsoft provides a free RAM disk driver that works in Windows 2000 and XP. Install this driver to devote up to 32 MB of your computer's memory to a RAM disk.

Things You'll Need

• Windows 2000 or XP

Instructions

1. Download the RAM disk driver from Microsoft using the link under "Resources." The RAM disk driver is compatible with Windows 2000 and XP. Save the resulting file--"ramdisk.exe"--to the desktop and double-click it.

2. Click the "Unzip" button, then click "OK" and "Close."

3. Click the "Start" button, then click "Settings" (if applicable) and "Control Panel."

4. Double-click "Add Hardware." If you do not see this option on the screen, click "Switch to Classic View."

5. Click "Next," then wait a moment for Windows to search for any new hardware that is installed. When the window changes, select "Yes, I have already connected the hardware," then click "Next." A list of hardware will be displayed.

6. Select "Add a new hardware device" from the bottom of the list, then click "Next."

7. Select "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list," then click "Next." "Show All Devices" should already be highlighted on the list that appears. If it isn't, click it, then click "Next."

8. Click the "Have Disk" button in the lower-right corner of the window.

9. Click the "Browse" button. Browse to "C:\RAMDISK" and double-click "ramdisk.inf." If Windows displays a warning that it is unable to verify the publisher of the driver, click "Install this driver software anyway."

10. Click "OK," then click "Next" twice. Windows installs the RAM disk driver. Click "Finish," then close the Control Panel.

11. Restart the computer.

12. Click the "Start" button when the Windows desktop reloads, then click "My Computer." The RAM disk will now appear on this screen with the drive letter "Z:." However, the RAM disk has a very small default size of 1 MB. To increase the size of the RAM disk, continue to the next step.

13. Press the Windows logo and "R" keys simultaneously, then type "regedit" in the window that appears. The registry editor will open.

14. Use the folders on the left side of the window to navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE," "SYSTEM," "CurrentControlSet," "Services," "Ramdisk" and "Parameters."

15. Double-click "Disk Size" on the right side of the window. Click the "Decimal" radio button. Change the number displayed under "Value Data" to "32000000." Click "OK" and close the registry editor.

16. Restart the computer again. When the computer restarts, the new size of the RAM disk will be 32 MB.

Tips & Warnings

• Microsoft has advised that using the RAM disk driver in Windows XP may prevent the System Restore feature from working properly. If System Restore is enabled on your system, a RAM disk should not be created.

• A RAM disk should be used as temporary storage only. When your computer is turned off, all data on the RAM disk will be lost.

References

• SpeedGuide.net: RAM disk Guide

Resources

• Microsoft Website: Sample RAM disk Driver for Windows 2000