You need to optimize USB storage for better performance if you want to make copying files to USB drives a little faster. Write caching is a process that places files that you want to copy into cache first in fast RAM and then send them to a slower read flash. USB device memory. Enables file dialogs to close sooner. Actual copying takes a long time but takes place in the background.
By default, write caching is disabled for USB devices (unless they use NTFS format). If you want to use write caching, it can be enabled in Device Manager. (Administrator privileges may be required.)
For those who don’t know, external storage devices connected via USB or Thunderbolt have their own policy settings. Microsoft actually allows users to set policy settings for the behaviour of external storage devices, but many users do not know how to change these policy settings.
By enabling better performance, you can optimize USB drivers and other external storage devices as well. Note that if you want to optimize storage for better performance of any device, then you need to do this for each device. In this article, we will guide you to the whole procedure to improve USB storage for better performance on Windows 10.
So, in this article, we’ll explore everything about quick removal and better performance policies for USB storage devices.
Better performance Or Quick Removal – which is Better?
As we all know, Microsoft Windows has different policies for external storage devices connected to computer connects via USB cable. Each connected device has its own policy settings. By default, Windows 10 uses the “express removal” policy that disables write caching on devices, but users can safely disconnect the device without using the safely remove devices option.
Another option is “better performance” that enables write caching in Windows. However, if you choose to use this removal policy, you need to use the Safely Remove Hardware option. Since the “better performance” option cache writes processes, it greatly reduces slow applications.
To be honest, you will not see any significant increase in speed while using “quick removal” or “better performance” policies because the speed also depends on the type of USB you are using, and how the software you use deals with data writing, however, if you are among those who They don’t care about “safe removal” devices, so the “quick removal” policy may be the best option.
Should one use Better Performance or Quick Removal of USB Drives?
For external storage devices connected via Thunderbolt or USB, you can choose from the different policies that Windows offers. Note that there is a specific policy setting for each individual storage device. Needless to say, you can select a specific policy setting for each device.
However, Windows 10 now has a “quick removal” policy by default, which means your system is writing data to the drive as quickly as possible. In theory, you’ll be able to disconnect your USB drive even without using the “Safely Remove Hardware” option. However, we do not recommend this. There may be software running in the background, and writing data to an external drive.
For example, when trying to save a file to an external storage drive, a running program might stop. The app will wait for the save process to complete before you can continue. Now, a “better performance” option can help solve a slowdown. When this option is activated, your operating system stores write operations in the cache and allows your applications to continue as if they had already written data. Meanwhile, Windows performs background writing. Thus, applications will run faster.
You should know that although the “best performance” feature can bring many benefits to your computer, it may in some cases cause data loss. Users are removing their drive, believing that their files are stored correctly.
However, they discover that the data has not been saved properly and that their files are corrupted. This is why you should always take advantage of the “Safely Remove Hardware” option before disconnecting the drive from your computer. Doing so indicates your system to write all data cached to disk. So all your files will be safe before disconnecting the external drive.
It is undeniable that many users do not care to use the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature before disconnecting the drive. As such, Microsoft used the “express removal” option as a solution to reduce the risk of data loss.
How to optimize USB storage for better performance
If you want to enable “better performance”, you will have to do this individually for each external storage device that you connect to your computer. However, Windows will remember this setting. If this method is changed to one USB flash drive, it will be used whenever you connect the same USB drive to the current computer. The option will not be remembered if you connected a different USB drive to the current computer or if you moved the USB drive to another computer.
First, make sure the external storage device is connected to the computer. To open it, right-click the Windows 10 Start button and select “Disk Management”. (If you are using Windows 7, you can press Windows + R, type “diskmgmt.msc” in the window, and press Enter to start the Disk Management tool.)
Select the disk name at the bottom of the Disk Management window, right-click it, and select “Properties.” You should right-click the name on the left side of the list.
Click on the “Policies” tab and select “Better Performance” under the removal policy to use this policy. Microsoft also recommends that you enable the “Enable write caching on device” setting under the write caching policy if you select Better Performance.
Do not enable the option to “Turn off Windows write-cache erasing on device” unless the external storage device has a separate power supply. This can cause data loss if your computer experiences a power outage.