User Guide

VirtualDrive Pro 11

Chapter 5: Virtual Hard Drive Pro

5.1 Creating a RAM Disk

Virtual Hard Drive Pro creates a RAM disk, or “virtual hard drive,” that runs in your computer’s physical

memory. This RAM disk has read and write times more than 300 times faster than your physical hard

drive. It creates no wear and tear on your computer’s mechanical parts. In VirtualDrive Pro 11, the

included Virtual Hard Drive component lets you make a RAM disk that is limited only by the amount of

physical memory on your system.

Please note that to run games and disk-based applications in your RAM disk, you must first

install the program to that RAM disk. In this respect, you must treat your virtual hard drive

exactly as you would treat a physical hard drive.

1. In the Main Console, select Virtual Hard Drive Pro Æ Create a RAM Disk.

Note

If a RAM Disk is already running in your system, you can not create a new Virtual Hard Drive.

The functions of Create a Ram Disk and Load a Ram Disk image file will be disabled.

2. Select the following three parameters for your RAM disk (explained below). Click Next.

File system: Virtual Hard Drive Pro supports FAT, FAT32, and NTFS file systems. You

must select one of these systems for your RAM disk

The file system is an operating system’s structure for naming, storing, and organizing

files. The size of your RAM disk will dictate which file system you are able to use:

RAM Disk Size File

System

Minimum Maximum

FAT 1 MB 2048 MB

FAT32 33 MB 4 GB

NTFS 3 MB Maximum memory size supported by operating system

Drive letter: Assign a drive letter for your RAM Disk.

Note

Only the drive letters that are not used by other drives, including virtual drives, can be

assigned. For example, you can set yours to G: if A:, B:, C:, D:, E: and F: are already being

used.

Size: Determine the amount of physical memory you would like to allocate for your

RAM disk. Your RAM disk is limited only by the amount of physical memory on your

computer system and by the constraints of your operating system.

Note

Some programs might not work properly if there is not enough available memory on your PC.

We recommend that you allocate no more than 70% of your physical memory to a RAM disk.