Windows 7 users: Want to speed up iTunes? Use ReadyBoost!

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Lounge' started by Yagami_Light, Nov 20, 2009.

  1. Yagami_Light

    Yagami_Light Well-Known Member

    Feb 20, 2009
    302
    1
    18
    As those of us with Windows have learned, Apple has created quite a crippled version of iTunes for Windows (or maybe it is just as slow on the Mac, but I doubt it. There is no reason a simple program like this would be so slow when everything else runs perfectly fast). Boot up times for the program have gotten a bit better with Win 7, but it still takes me about 15 seconds for the program to get up and running, which is unacceptable for a simple media player (in contrast, Windows Media Player boots instantly, and does everything iTunes does and a hell of a lot more).

    Thankfully, this problem is solved with Windows 7's new ReadyBoost feature (yes, it was in Vista, but using it actually slowed down iTunes' boot time, was limited to one flash device, and only 4 gigs of memory). You can add up to 8 devices, for up to 256 GIGS of memory. You don't even have to use a 64 bit OS.

    Just put in some flash memory (USB drives, SD cards, etc.), go to its properties page, and enable ReadyBoost.

    With using only my PSP's 8 gig Sandisk memory card, the boot times for iTunes dropped from 15 seconds to less than 3 seconds. Definitely worth doing if you have some flash memory around.
     
  2. DonutGames

    DonutGames Well-Known Member
    Patreon Indie

    Jul 12, 2009
    558
    13
    18
    Indie Game Developer
    Wow, thanks for the tip!
    Anyone else who've tried this with similar results? (not doubting it worked for you, Yagami_light)

    I'm waiting for my Win7 upgrade to arrive in the mail, so I can't give any feedback myself.
     
  3. Kamazar

    Kamazar Well-Known Member

    Dec 13, 2008
    6,509
    18
    0
    Naturally, you'd need an extra step to do what Windows should be doing in the first place.
     
  4. MidianGTX

    MidianGTX Well-Known Member

    Jun 16, 2009
    3,738
    10
    38
    Don't you mean Windows needs an extra step to fix what Apple did to iTunes in the first place?
     
  5. Teknikal

    Teknikal Well-Known Member

    Oct 26, 2010
    2,194
    1
    38
    Male
    Belfast N Ireland
    Readyboost is pretty good I agree itunes is probably the worst programmed piece of software I've ever used it's actually put me off the idea of ever buying a mac which I did consider for a brief period of time.

    Just as an example the last time I plugged my Ipod in it asked me to choose a library to use it and once before it told me my account had never been used.

    I cant sync updates either without turning off itunes beforehand for me it's not that slow loading but it is terrible in general.
     
  6. Hmar9333

    Hmar9333 Well-Known Member

    Jul 11, 2009
    2,585
    0
    0
    Book Salesperson/Student
    Melbourne, Australia
    Ignorance is ignorant?

    I touch iTunes as little as I possibly can on my PC. It makes me cry when I try to use it. Plus, I tried to restore my iPad recently, it just gave me error after error after error. I can probably fix I, but it will take many effort.
     
  7. Balu`

    Balu` Well-Known Member

    Aug 4, 2009
    3,949
    0
    36
    Hungary
    And replying to a post that's a year and a half old is fun!
     
  8. Teknikal

    Teknikal Well-Known Member

    Oct 26, 2010
    2,194
    1
    38
    Male
    Belfast N Ireland
    I didn't dig this post up that's seriously weird it was on the first page of threads when I replied I wonder if a bad comment got deleted or something.
     
  9. Balu`

    Balu` Well-Known Member

    Aug 4, 2009
    3,949
    0
    36
    Hungary
    Haha, I know. A spambot bumped it.
     
  10. iPhondTouch3G

    iPhondTouch3G Well-Known Member

    Dec 17, 2009
    577
    2
    0
    ReadyBoost is useless on systems that have more than 1GB of RAM. If you have more, ReadyBoost can actually slow your system down, since flash memory and USB 2.0 are slow as hell compared to actual RAM.
     
  11. MidianGTX

    MidianGTX Well-Known Member

    Jun 16, 2009
    3,738
    10
    38
    For a guy called Teknikal you sure haven't done much research :rolleyes:
     
  12. Teknikal

    Teknikal Well-Known Member

    Oct 26, 2010
    2,194
    1
    38
    Male
    Belfast N Ireland
    I've done plenty macs are useless for what I use a computer for only reason I considered one briefly was I liked the look of the air. Macs are just overpriced and underpowered.
     
  13. TheDukester

    TheDukester Well-Known Member

    LOL — straight out of 1997.

    Way to be a complete sheep, bro.
     
  14. Teknikal

    Teknikal Well-Known Member

    Oct 26, 2010
    2,194
    1
    38
    Male
    Belfast N Ireland
    I don't think so the air is well over a grand and still running an old dual core at least it was when I looked at it.
     
  15. MidianGTX

    MidianGTX Well-Known Member

    Jun 16, 2009
    3,738
    10
    38
    I was referring to your theory that iTunes' performance on Windows is in any way indicative of how OSX/Mac programs perform. Any Mac user will tell you that iTunes runs almost flawlessly for them... as does the rest of the software.
     
  16. Teknikal

    Teknikal Well-Known Member

    Oct 26, 2010
    2,194
    1
    38
    Male
    Belfast N Ireland
    Well I know it will run better on a Mac but I'm not filled with faith if that's the best they can manage at programming for windows. It's not the only bad example bonjour and quicktime are seriously poor windows programs as well.

    I've nothing really against OSX but then again apple took most of the code from BSD.
     
  17. MidianGTX

    MidianGTX Well-Known Member

    Jun 16, 2009
    3,738
    10
    38
    Yeah it's slightly misleading... but still not the case. I don't really care about Mac specs, mine was worth the extra money for the stress-free experience alone. Two years in and I can't recall seeing any errors or crashes. The extent of my problems was learning to use Photoshop without a mouse, and even that went well thanks to having the best trackpad I've ever encountered.
     
  18. Teknikal

    Teknikal Well-Known Member

    Oct 26, 2010
    2,194
    1
    38
    Male
    Belfast N Ireland
    Well if it does what you need reliably and without any troubles it's a good purchase. I've really nothing against Macs although I'm definitely a specs person and do usually push my computers to their limit.

    Reliability does have value I've been toying with the idea of buying my dad a mac mini just so I don't have to keep fixing his computer. Chromebook is also in the running for that as well though.
     
  19. ShadowsFall

    ShadowsFall Well-Known Member

    May 15, 2009
    2,006
    0
    0
    Summer job soon
    TA 09'
    I can load up iTunes in 8 seconds, No need to go any faster with 8gb of ram :p
     
  20. iphoneprogrammer

    iphoneprogrammer Well-Known Member

    Mar 26, 2009
    2,280
    18
    38
    Financial Analyst for Baines and Ernst
    London, UK
    #20 iphoneprogrammer, Jun 30, 2011
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2011
    Mac iTunes > Windows iTunes.

    Mac > Windows


    The never-ending debate continues.


    Look at this video



    My mac pro has 16GB of ram and its an 09' it opens iTunes in about 8.5-10 seconds depending on what else ive got open.
     

Share This Page