Archived - PowerBook 100: Creating and Using a RAM Disk(7/93)
How can I use a RAM disk to maximize the power of my PowerBook 100?
Products Affected
PowerBook
The PowerBook 100 is uniquely suited to the use of a RAM disk, because it's the only PowerBook with batteries that supply power to RAM even when the computer is shut down. On all other PowerBooks, the RAM is erased upon shut down.
Since PowerBooks are set to turn off their hard drives after several minutes of inactivity, simple tasks like saving or opening new documents require that the hard disk spin up again. This takes time and battery power. However, you can allow the hard disk to spin down and stay there if you use a RAM disk.
However, RAM disks are only efficient if you have 6MB or more of memory on your hard disk.
An ideal RAM disk has a System Folder, applications, documents and anything else you'd store on any disk. But for safety, it's a good idea to back up the information on the RAM disk to your hard drive periodically.
You will find, while using a RAM disk, that your battery life improves significantly.
Creating a RAM Disk
-------------------
1) Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu.
2) Open the Memory control panel.
3) Click the On button beneath the words "RAM disk."
4) Drag the slider to choose the percentage of available memory you want to
use for your RAM disk. The default size is 100 percent of available
memory over 2 MB; that is, the largest RAM disk you can have. The size
appears in the "RAM Disk Size" box.
5) Close the control panel.
6) Choose Restart from the Special menu. A RAM disk appears on the desktop.
Making a RAM Disk Your Startup Disk
-----------------------------------
1) Insert the Install 1 floppy disk that came with your PowerBook.
2) Open the Installer program.
3) Click the Switch Disk button until the RAM disk is displayed.
4) Click Customize.
5) Scroll through the list of items until you see "Min System for Macintosh
PowerBook 100.
6) Click Install, and follow the instructions on the screen.
7) Click Quit.
8) Choose Control panels from the Apple menu.
9) Open the Startup Disk control panel.
10) Select the RAM disk as your Startup disk.
11) Choose Restart from the Special menu.
Make a backup copy of the disk a soon as you can, and back up its contents regularly to the hard drive.
Removing the RAM Disk
---------------------
If you later decide to remove the RAM disk:
1) Throw its contents away and empty the trash.
2) Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu.
3) Choose the Memory control panel.
4) Move the slider in the memory control panel to 0 percent.
Support Information Services
Since PowerBooks are set to turn off their hard drives after several minutes of inactivity, simple tasks like saving or opening new documents require that the hard disk spin up again. This takes time and battery power. However, you can allow the hard disk to spin down and stay there if you use a RAM disk.
However, RAM disks are only efficient if you have 6MB or more of memory on your hard disk.
An ideal RAM disk has a System Folder, applications, documents and anything else you'd store on any disk. But for safety, it's a good idea to back up the information on the RAM disk to your hard drive periodically.
You will find, while using a RAM disk, that your battery life improves significantly.
Creating a RAM Disk
-------------------
1) Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu.
2) Open the Memory control panel.
3) Click the On button beneath the words "RAM disk."
4) Drag the slider to choose the percentage of available memory you want to
use for your RAM disk. The default size is 100 percent of available
memory over 2 MB; that is, the largest RAM disk you can have. The size
appears in the "RAM Disk Size" box.
5) Close the control panel.
6) Choose Restart from the Special menu. A RAM disk appears on the desktop.
Making a RAM Disk Your Startup Disk
-----------------------------------
1) Insert the Install 1 floppy disk that came with your PowerBook.
2) Open the Installer program.
3) Click the Switch Disk button until the RAM disk is displayed.
4) Click Customize.
5) Scroll through the list of items until you see "Min System for Macintosh
PowerBook 100.
6) Click Install, and follow the instructions on the screen.
7) Click Quit.
8) Choose Control panels from the Apple menu.
9) Open the Startup Disk control panel.
10) Select the RAM disk as your Startup disk.
11) Choose Restart from the Special menu.
Make a backup copy of the disk a soon as you can, and back up its contents regularly to the hard drive.
Removing the RAM Disk
---------------------
If you later decide to remove the RAM disk:
1) Throw its contents away and empty the trash.
2) Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu.
3) Choose the Memory control panel.
4) Move the slider in the memory control panel to 0 percent.
Support Information Services