Depends on the software. If a software installation relies on something that is disabled in Safe Mode, then it will not install correctly. In addition, some software will not let you. For example, Norton Anti-Virus will not allow you.

If you boot up in Safe Mode with Networking, you can also browse the internet. For example, you can frequently browse to http://www.trendmicro.com and use their free online virus scanning software to remove viruses that have disabled your computer.

All files cached to ReadyBoost are still backed up on disk in virtual memory. This is why you can disconnect a ReadyBoost device anytime you wish. ReadyBoost increases overall speed because random I/Os are faster with flash RAM than with disk. It's interesting to note that some hard drives are much faster at sequential I/O than flash RAM so ReadyBoost focuses on caching virtual memory which is random I/O intensive. Many industry experts expect flash RAM to outperform disks in the near future especially now that Microsoft has created a market for super fast flash RAM devices.

Windows Update installs new operating system features and fixes. Microsoft Update does that too but also updates some Microsoft products such as Office updates. Depending on which operating system you are using, you may already be using Microsoft Update. To check, go to Windows Update and check the settings for a Use Microsoft Update option or a checkbox that asks you if you wish to stop using Microsoft Update in favor of just using Windows Update.

In Vista Professional and above, Offline Files is now a Control Panel applet. Go to your control panel, open the Offline Files applet and click the Enable Offline Files button. Offline Files is NOT available in Vista Home Edition nor is it availble in Windows XP Home Edition.

In Windows XP, Offline Files is part of the Folder Options. To enable Offline Files in XP:

1. Click Start, and thin click My Computer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options
3. Click the Offline Files tab.
4. Select the Enable Offline Files check box, and then clock OK.

The short answer is you shouldn't have to if your computer is running Vista and it has the proper hardware. Assuming you do and you've turned off Aero, you turn it back on in the classic Appearance Settings properties dialog.

1. Right click your desktop and select Personalize.
2. Select Windows Color and Appearance.
3. Select the Open classic appearance properties for more color options.
4. Select Windows Aero from the Color Scheme list.

If Windows Aero isn't listed, then you need to check your hardware. For example, when I plug in my third monitor using a USB VGA card, Aero automatically turns off until I unplug my third USB monitor.

If you intend to use it ONLY for ReadyBoost, the current limit ReadyBoost will use as of early 2008 is 4 GB. Another guideline you could use is that Microsoft is currently recommending a ReadyBoost cache size of 1 to 3 times your RAM. So, if you have 1 GB or RAM, they recommend a 1 to 3 GB ReadyBoost cache.

Vista targets consumers so it does have limits. Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate OS support 2 physical CPUs; others support one only. There is no limit on the cores. So, for example, you could have 2 physical CPUs with 2 cores each and Vista Business will fully utilize all four processors. If you need more, use the Windows server OSes.

With the size of applications and data, my belief is that you need a minimum of 2 GB of RAM not because it's required, but because Vista will use it. In Windows Vista, the caching scheme changed. Vista's SuperFetch built on and replaced Prefetch. Unlike Prefetch, SuperFetch will use up ALL memory you give it so you want as much memory on Vista as you can afford. My current Vista system has 3 GB of RAM with an additional 4 GB ReadyBoost compliant USB flash drive.

With the size of applications and data, my belief is that you need a minimum of 1 GB of RAM but 2 GBs is better. Unless you run lots of applications at the same time, there is no real need for more than 3 GBs of RAM.

By the way, in Windows Vista, the caching scheme changed. Vista's SuperFetch built on and replaced Prefetch. Unlike Prefetch, SuperFetch will use up ALL memory for caching you give it so you want as much memory on Vista as you can afford and your hardware will allow. Vista 32-bit has a general limit of 4 GB and Vista 64-bit has a general limit of 128 GB.