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Want to run Windows 7 directly from or inside Random Acces Memory.

post #1 of 25
6/20/12 at 5:48am
Thread Starter 
Hi Every One,

I would like to run Windows 7 directly from or in RAM.
RAM is no longer that expensive, and modern motherboards allow for large quantities of RAM.
What would it take to achieve this?

Lets assume a modern rig with 256GB or Random Access Memory and an SSD DRIVE.

Desired Results

Start Up
1. System Starts
2. Creates a 128GB RAM DRIVE.
3. Loads Windows 7 image from SSD in to RAM DRIVE.
4. System Boots from RAM DRIVE.

Shut Down
1. Windows 7 shuts down.
2. Image copied from RAM DRIVE to SSD DRIVE.
3.System turns off.

So what would it take?
What type of hacking shinanagance would it take to pull something like this off?
286
Edited by [ShowMe!] - 6/20/12 at 5:52am
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post #2 of 25
6/20/12 at 2:12pm
An operating system completely in RAM, interesting.

My first thought was a RamDisk http://www.romexsoftware.com/en-us/index.html but that needs Windows to be running in order to create and load the RamDisk (I think).

I guess it would be possible to load a complete OS into RAM with a Virtual Machine; but as a OS loaded with a Virtual Machine is not using the hardware directly/natively, the performance would probably be lacking. The steps to do this option would be to boot into your OS from a Solid State drive, then create a RamDisk, then start the Virtual Machine software to load another OS into the RamDisk.

Optimally (for the solution you desire) you would need a motherboard with BIOS that natively supports creating a RamDisk, loading of an OS into it on boot, and saving the state back to Hard Disk on shutdown.

I assume the reason this has not been done yet is because a power outage would not allow the OS state to be saved. That's not necessarily detrimental to a gaming system though as on next boot the previous state would be loaded from Hard Disk (provided the power outage didn't occur during the shut down/save state). An uninterruptible power supply would be a definite must.
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post #3 of 25
6/20/12 at 2:20pm
Why?

A software-based RAMDrive must run within an OS. Sure, you can run Windows 7 on a software-based RAMDrive but it ritualized within another OS.


The other solution is to have a hardware-based RAMDisk. These require constant power or data is loss. These appear to be normal disks to the motherboard:

RAMSan: http://www.ramsan.com/products/rackmount-ram-storage/ramsan-300
Gigabyte iRAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815168001
ACARD ANS-9010: http://www.amazon.com/ACARD-ANS-9010-Dynamic-Module-including/dp/B001NDX6FE
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post #4 of 25
6/20/12 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the input every one!

It seems that it would require the mobo to have a custom bios.

Im going to start looking in to bios modding...

All external ram based options are extremely limited, and to expensive, compared to a mobo with lots of ram.
Edited by [ShowMe!] - 6/20/12 at 5:55pm
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post #5 of 25
6/20/12 at 8:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by [ShowMe!] View Post

Thank you for the input every one!
It seems that it would require the mobo to have a custom bios.
Im going to start looking in to bios modding...
All external ram based options are extremely limited, and to expensive, compared to a mobo with lots of ram.

No, a custom BIOS would not do it. As already explained, you would need another OS.

Also, you do not just look into BIOS modding..... Do you at least know assembly?
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post #6 of 25
6/20/12 at 8:11pm
i think your best option would be something like the ocz revo.

that is the closest you are going to find withing going crazy.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227772
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post #7 of 25
6/20/12 at 8:11pm
If you get a Puppy Linux live cd and boot from it, it creates a ramdisk and runs the whole OS from the RAM with the option of storing the progress to an encrypted image file in your hard drive.
Just my two cents...Perhaps it's worth checking.
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post #8 of 25
6/20/12 at 8:22pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ivanlabrie View Post

If you get a Puppy Linux live cd and boot from it, it creates a ramdisk and runs the whole OS from the RAM with the option of storing the progress to an encrypted image file in your hard drive.
Just my two cents...Perhaps it's worth checking.

although that may be possible, You have to do all of that process everytime you boot up, it defeats the purpose.
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post #9 of 25
6/20/12 at 8:25pm
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Windows 7 will take at least 20gb, do you have that much ram?
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post #10 of 25
6/20/12 at 11:01pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostrider85 View Post

Windows 7 will take at least 20gb, do you have that much ram?

Its best if you start reading from post number one.
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