RAMDISK stuff ...
First, the RAMDISK supplied with Windows limits the disk
you can create. Get a copy of XMSDSK a RamDisk discussed
on this thread a few months ago. It's necessary to make
this idea work.
Put the following lines in your AutoExec.BAT file. At
first, I used a 256meg disk, but later adjusted it to half
because I didn't need that much storage. This explains
the REM'd larger size. Note: I use drive H:, others may
select something different.
REM Create a RAM disk
REM C:\WINDOWS\XMSDSK 262144 H: /T /C1 /Y
C:\WINDOWS\XMSDSK 131072 H: /T /C1 /Y
MD H:\WINDOWS
MD H:\WINDOWS\TEMP
MD H:\WINDOWS\HISTORY
MD H:\WINDOWS\COOKIES
SET TMP=H:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET TEMP=H:\WINDOWS\TEMP
Re-boot your system and make sure you have the drive you
want with the letter you want. Make sure you also have
the four sub-directories you expect, and the environment
variables take the correct values.
The next step is to let Windows know that you want to use
these new locations. We do this through the registry.
Create a .REG file with the following entries if you're
courageous, or enter the edits manually if your cautious.
I like using he .REG file because I can edit it and reverse
the damage. A manual RegEdit has the advantage of letting
you catch anything on your system that's different from
what I have. Your choice. But remember to do your back-
ups first!
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\Cookies]
"Directory"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Cookies"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths]
"Directory"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Temporary Internet Files\\"
"FirstProcAttachHKLMCacheDirectory"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Temporary Internet Files\\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path1]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Temporary Internet Files\\Cache1"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path2]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Temporary Internet Files\\Cache2"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path3]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Temporary Internet Files\\Cache3"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path4]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Temporary Internet Files\\Cache4"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Content]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Temporary Internet Files"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Cookies]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\Cookies\\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\History]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\History\\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Extensible Cache\MSHist012000121120001218]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\History\\MSHist012000121120001218\\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Extensible Cache\MSHist012000121820001219]
"CachePath"="H:\\WINDOWS\\History\\MSHist012000121820001219\\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Url History]
"Directory"="H:\\WINDOWS\\History"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\VolumeCaches\Temporary files]
"folder"="H:\\WINDOWS\\TEMP\\"
Once your registry is edited, re-boot. Find your old history, cookies, cache
on your disk and delete them. Check that your RamDisk is filling as you work.
Double check that your hard disk does NOT contain unwanted cookies, cache, or
hisory files.
With these changes, expect less disk activity when on-line, noticeably faster
page displays, especially from cache, and of course, the automatic clean-up
as these files are destroyed at every shutdown.
Again, make your back-up before making your changes.
Cheers, PW.
P.S. I used a bit of a shortcut in making my .REG file. I exported the
'CurrentVersion' rootkey, deleted the unchanging keys, and edited only the
keys needing changes. I also saved my .REG file, so with simple C: for H:
substitute, I can reverse my changes. |
