Solved SDHC ReadyBoost Card Stops Boot Process ?

[carwiz]

I was going to play around and see if I could find something but I have a SSD system disk and Windows disables the ReadyBoost option for USB drives. In any case, keep in mind the SD card is just another USB device via the reader. I would check your Power Plan Power Options (disable USB selective suspend) and Device Manager Power Management options for the USB Hubs to make sure they are not allowed to be powered down.

 

[Slartybart]

..... But still, the card problem will still be be a problem, until resolved. After all, it is a function that is not functioning, and there must be a reason. If my spelling and grammar in this post are "Rubbish" then please excuse me as I have just got back from the pub.

My first question is why didn't you invite us.

Yeah, the SD card "problem" will still exist, but you won't really need readyboost after you upgrade your memory. You might still want to understand and "fix" it, but if you're happy with the performance after the memory upgrade, be happy. There are some things that need to be fixed and some things I just shrug and say "It ain't worth the time or trouble"

 

[FredM8]

I thought that it may be too far for you to walk home, after all you can't drink and drive. and the cab fare would have been awsome. The scan by Crucial told me that my RAM limit was 2 X 2 GB total 4 GB. I contacted another company Computer Memory RAM Upgrade - Laptop, Desktop, Server, Mac at MrMemory.co.uk and although my machine is not listed in their index they confirmed the same details as Crucial. They also sent me this link http://www.mrmemory.co.uk/StandardMemory/product.asp?rangelist=240%20Pin%20DDR2%20PC2-6400%20800MHz

So, I am still confused as to whether my machine would benefit from a 2 X 4 GB uprade. I don't doubt that the RAM cards will fit, but will my computer be able to utilise memory that exceeds 4 GB or will I be wasting my money ?

 

[FredM8]

SDHC Card V Extra RAM

McEwans Export, yes quite nice stuff, but I am a Guinness drinker. As for the memory situation, see my other reply on page 3.

 

[Petey7]

Many thanks to you all !!!
......
But still, the card problem will still be be a problem, untill resolved. After all, it is a function that is not functioning, and there must be a reason. If my spelling ang grammer in this post are "Rubbish" then please excuse me as I have just got back from the pub.

I didn't go into much detail on what I thought the exact issue was before, so now I will. I've used computers in the past that hang at startup with just about any USB device connected. It is my understanding that this is a BIOS issue (not a setting issue, just an issue with the BIOS itself), and have heard of the problem being solved with a BIOS update. I looked on the Fujitsu website to see if they had a BIOS update available, which, as far as I can tell, they do not. If I am right in it being a BIOS issue and not a Windows issue, then I don't think you'll find a fix without Fujitsu releasing a fix for it. I may be wrong through, and someone here will know exactly what to do, which I hope turns out to be the case.

 

[Slartybart]

Ok, thanks, then there's that walking on water problem....

I thought that it may be too far for you to walk home, after all you can't drink and drive. and the cab fare would have been awsome.

Hmmm, too bad about the memory upgrade, I should have looked at your machine specs before opening my big mouth I had a Cpq laptop once and upgraded to 2Gb based on one set of specs, only to find out later that I COULD put in 4Gb (from the Cpq site, not a retail or memory outlet). Better though, not to have spent the money and only get 2Gb in my case. not sure about your machine. We can both look at the Fujitsu specs, you could post on their board - see if anyone has attempted it and what they found.

......So, I am still confused as to whether my machine would benefit from a 2 X 4 GB uprade. I don't doubt that the RAM cards will fit, but will my computer be able to utilise memory that exceeds 4 GB or will I be wasting my money ?

 

[Slartybart]

@Petey7 & FredM8: Fujitsu search results (kw=AMILO PI 3745), there are a few BIOS updates.
@FredM8: Figure out the correct motherboard before flashing your BIOS.

Still looking for memory info re: AMILO PI 3745 - might really only support 4Gbs.

There's an Easy System Specs link in my sig - makes it simple to provide Seven forums complete info, I used it bc I'm lazy and didn't want to type all of that info.

 

[Slartybart]

I wonder if the Readyboost Superfetch automatic encryption is interfering with the boot process. It doesn't present a problem after the boot.

Either that or Windows is confused where to look for the fetch cache, as control switches between HDD and Readyboost device based on read operation (small reads hits the Readyboost, long sequential reads hit the HDD).

FredM8, could you post your Autoplay screen for the device? Both the configuration and Autoplay defaults. There have been issues with autoplay in the past. I'm fishing......

 

[FredM8]

As DDR3 etc are now the standard then DDR2 4GB cards must have been created for a reason ? I have been advised by a couple of people who think that as I am running a 64 bit system then the increased memory should work. MSI have a little Gizmo you can down load and install that tells you a bit about your/their motherboard. It seems that I have the latest BIOS for this board. I did try to get more details from other users of my computer model from a users forum. The link is here
Fujitsu Technology Solutions - Forum • View forum - AMILO Desktop P

My posts are the two at the top. As you can see the Fujitsu forum for this model is a hotbed of activity with people falling all over themselves to provide advice,assistance, and solutions.

 

[Slartybart]

@FredM8: Thinking out loud...

What, if any, other files are on your SD card. I know you formatted it NTFS a few posts back, so there might only be the Readyboost cache. Since I mentioned Autoplay, I'm thinking that between all of the auto and indexing stuff, Windows is "overloading" at boot.

I'm also curious about any Library references. Did you previously use the SD card for data or media storage.... are there remants hanging around that are causing this anomaly?

I'm ready to hit the pub, now and I quit drinking decades ago.

 

[Slartybart]

Sure, it's not their money, but modern architecture SHOULD be able to handle it (not my money either ) It's your call - check with a retailer on returns - buy and try, the worst that's going to happen (I think - anyone else?) is that your system only sees 4Gbs.

..... I have been advised by a couple of people who think that as I am running a 64 bit system then the increased memory should work.

You could also check the mother board itself, printed between the PCI slots I think. If it says you're up-to-date, great.

MSI have a little Gizmo you can down load and install that tells you a bit about your/their motherboard. It seems that I have the latest BIOS for this board. I did try to get more details from other users of my computer model from a users forum.

Ok, let me catch up - reading your posts over there:

The link is here
Fujitsu Technology Solutions - Forum • View forum - AMILO Desktop P My posts are the two at the top. As you can see the Fujitsu forum for this model is a hotbed of activity with people falling all over themselves to provide advice,assistance, and solutions.

 

[FredM8]

There is nothing at all on the card. I formated it and dedicated it to ReadyBoost form new, it's only a few days old ?
Autoplay Screen ? Please elaborate.

Whoops ! I had forgotten about that screen and it's ages since I used the print screen function too. But it's attached as a PDF now.

 

[Slartybart]

@FredM8: I saw the posts over at Fujitsu and that "Hey this guy might solve FredM8's problem" Of course now I know that that guy IS FredM8 - lol.

You might try the "Reset to Defaults" button on Control Panel autoplay, remove the SD and restart
Format you SD card after Windows is up, and restart with the SD in the slot and see what happens. I suspect your machine will boot normally - it's just a card in the slot. If you have the "hang" at this point, we'll have to chase it form another angle.

If the system restarts normally with the newly formatted (empty) SD in the slot (no autoplay or Readyboost defined), then tell Windows to use your SD card as a Readyboost device again and restart - what happens?

I normally don't use autoplay, especially for programs - I don't want some rogue program starting automatically. I'd rather have the "inconvenience" of launching anything on a device myself. I do mean anything, even media. That's just how I run my system, autoplay is nice but a threat on external media has an easy way in to your system. So, I set all items in autoplay to "Take no Action".

 

[FredM8]

Well, I have done as you suggested and the problem remains. I had all my autoplay settings set to default, same problem no difference in response time to play a WMV file etc. I now have most of the settings set to "open folder" to display contents, same problem and no difference in response time to play WMV file etc.

 

[Slartybart]

Stumped SD & readyboost-boot delay(hang)

Thanks Fred, that might have been my last best guess. I'll think on it for a while, hopefully some other folks will drop by and suggest another plan of attack. It might just be something you have to live with or use a Flash drive for your Readyboost device (I'm not saying you won't have the same issue, but....)

I've subscribed to this thread, so I can follow any progress. I will also look a little deeper into the memory capacity 4Gb v. 8Gb but for now.... I'm stumped!

 

[FredM8]

OK.
I have had USB memory sticks in my machine before, for weeks at a time, with no ill effect on startup or shutdown ?

 

[Slartybart]

A question?

.....with no ill effect on startup or shutdown ?

Were the sticks defined as Readyboost devices? I think the USB sticks have better results with Readyboost in that they don't seem to cause any problems, as long as they pass the initial test when you set it up for a device.

I'm sure that using SD for Readyboost would make it easier since the card doesn't stick out as the flash drives do.

Thanks for the update.

 

[FredM8]

I'm sure that using SD for Readyboost would make it easier since the card doesn't stick out as the flash drives do.

That was my thinking. Also, I dont have much need for cards at all, so I would be happy for the card to take that particular slot all the time. USB ports on the other hand are a different matter.

 

[FredM8]

And, yes I have used a USB stick for ReadyBoost with no problems at all. I did not notice any difference in performance though. One stick was just 2GB and another was 8GB. Apart from the inconvenience of the sticks sticking out as you already mentioned, I can find other uses for my USB ports. If I am going to go for ReadyBoost then I think it will have to be a card of some kind, or not at all.

 

[Slartybart]

thanks and I agree. You can still use the card w/ Readyboost, you just can't boot with it in the slot.... an inconvenience, yes.... it would be nice and it should work... but this is technology, there's no magic involved.