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I would like to know whether and how you can setup a computer to boot into RAM. I have 16GB of DDR3 1600MHz RAM.

Could it be done in Windows? If not, maybe in a light version of Unix?

You'd have to get a bit of background: I've built a high spec computer. In Windows Index it is 7.5 + for all but the hard drive.

I have been experimenting with a RAM disk inside Windows running virtual machines with great success. I was woundering if you could boot a enviroment in a computer Directly in to a RAM disk as its primary hard drive.

From what I have seen is that there is an image of what's supposed to be on the RAM disks but the methods below haven't seamed seamless though.

As at boot I would like to take an image and put it into RAM, save it to an HD often so I don't get a corrupted system and can use it as a day to day computer.

A live CD that is dynamic. I don't want an OS specific set to running in RAM like bartpe and Ubuntu. I want a normal computer OS to be set in to RAM.

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  • This seems to be a bit old, but: disklessangel.com ?
    – Apache
    Oct 31, 2011 at 16:28
  • It appears that "yes, it's possible", see related info (off-site): Windows 7 RC x86 in 4.75 GB RAM disk. Perhaps try some stuff out and come back with specific questions? Oct 31, 2011 at 16:45
  • Thank you I was hoping for something free but I will give it ago Oct 31, 2011 at 16:46
  • I believe UBCD4Win boots up with a ram disk. Not sure exactly what you are trying to do here, but it may be worth investigating: ubcd4win.com
    – sbtkd85
    Oct 31, 2011 at 16:57
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    16GB of disk space would be a bit light for Windows proper, so I wouldn't recommend trying. (Windows PE, on the other hand, boots into a RAM disk by default.) Oct 31, 2011 at 20:38

2 Answers 2

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You may want to give KNOPPIX linux a try:

Knoppix is a Live Linux CD / Live DVD based on Debian GNU/Linux

Specially the boot option toram

At the boot prompt, type "knoppix toram". Knoppix will load the contents of the CD into ram and run from there. After boot up, the CD can be removed and the cd drive will be available for other uses. Because this will take up a lot of ram, it is recommended for those with at least 1 GB of ram.

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  • yout to get a bit of back ground i built a nice computer on windows index it is 7 .5 + for all but the hard drive i have been expermenting with ramdisk inside wihdows running virtual macciens with great succses i was woundering if you could boot a enviroment in a computer that will use the ram disk as its primary hard drive and from what i have seen is that thire is a img of whats suppost to be on the ramdisks but the metouds abouve havent seamed seamless Oct 31, 2011 at 20:16
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I've never tried to boot using RAM as storage space, but in theory it's possible. However, since RAM is volatile memory, unless you saved data to a persistent storage device (HDD, SSD, USB, CD, DVD, BD, Floppy disk, etc.), you would lose all the data on reboot. However, I suppose it's not physically impossible. It isn't possible for the BIOS/UEFI, as far as I know, to boot something into RAM directly, however, due to RAM being volatile memory, and thus incapable of storing an operating system after boot. However, it in theory could be possible to do something with ROM flash memory and/or boot sectors and/or boot-loaders to have something after UEFI/BIOS (for example, GNU GRUB), do something to run an OS in RAM. However, I have no idea how it'd be done, especially not on Windows.

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