Windows 7: Disk Thrashing - disable ReadyBoot (not ReadyBoost)

Hello,
I am trying to figure out how to permanently disable the "ReadyBoot" feature in Windows 7 x64 (note: I am not talking about ReadyBoost, that's something else!)



I've checked out some guides that I found online, such as here or here. But even though they seem to work, after rebooting my system, I find that somehow ReadyBoot has re-enabled itself, and I am still getting tons of disk-thrashing at boot and Performance Monitor shows that it is the ReadyBoot.etl file that is getting all the attention.

I want to turn this off once and for all, does anybody know how?

ReadyBoot is related to ReadyBoost in that it involves "prefetching" of files.

ReadyBoot uses the ReadyBoost services to tackle one particular problem -- speeding up the processes of booting the system and recovering from hibernation. It keeps track of the files most often needed when the system boots and builds a temporary cache -- sort of a "Boot-Up's Greatest Hits" -- when the system starts. It can use flash wherever it finds it in either external flash devices or H-HHDs.

It sounds like you have an SSD and I don't believe ReadyBoot can be disabled for an SSD device.

Good luck.

Jim Pickering

I don't have an SSD (wish I did!) - just a single SATA-II hard drive attached to my mainboard's Intel ICH10R controller. The SATA controller is in "AHCI" mode - so as to enable hot-plugging of devices. Do you think this is why ReadyBoot will not stay "off"?

The feature may be turned on but not actually doing anything. Readyboost and Readyboot are services that are implemented when you attach a flash drive to the system and identify it as a Readyboost drive. If you have not identified such a drive the features have no reason to interfere with your boot. Chances are, there are other programs that are loaded with windows that may be extending the time it takes for your system to boot.

Three ways you can look at what is loading.

Showing Services
Start -> Right Click on Computer -> Manage -> Services and Applications

Showing Boot Apps
Start -> Type msconfig -> Startup

Showing Boot Apps 2
Start -> Type regedit -> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/WINDOWS/CURRENTVERSION/RUN

hi, I think ReadyBoot is a boot-time defrag/optimization routine, not a service and I don't think it has anything to do with USB flash drives.... you are talking about ReadyBOOST I think.... because in my Performance Monitor I can see ReadyBoot.etl logfile is thrashing my disk like crazy on startup. Need to figure out how to disable this little bugger....

Why are you concerned about trashing hard drives?
It would be wiser to just leave well enough alone.
Unless you want a slower boot up?

Just wondering if you have ever left it alone long enough for it to finish? All it should be doing is reading the last 5 trace.fx files which are created after booting, and comparing them to the current boot session and deciding whether to over-write any of the current ones or leave them.

I just checked on mine and the only time I can even find/see ReadyBoot.etl is during startup, and it disappears about 90 seconds later.

it just takes a really long time for my machine to boot, and its a quad-core q9650 w/ 8gb ram, wd caviar black 1tb and Windows 7 x64. I think with those specs it should be a little faster. It literally takes about 3-4 minutes between when I log on to the machine before I can really "use" anything, because of the thrashing.

It might work better if you did not keep destroying the cache ReadyBoot is creating. Everytime you turn it off, it removes the cache making it rebuild each time. How long ago has it been since you installed the OS or set it up with all your software and drivers?

Instead of messing with it, let it work out what it needs to.

Also, by chance are you using a solid color for wallpaper?

It doesn't matter how many times I reboot- there's the same 5 minutes of thrashing at every boot no matter what, even if I haven't disabled Readyboot. OS has been installed since Windows 7 became avail on MSDN. Not sure how long exactly, but probably around 4 months. Yes I use a solid color............ why?