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This guide will help you mount your first RAM disk using memefs. You’ll learn the basic command structure and common usage patterns.

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Basic usage

The simplest way to create a RAM disk is with a minimal command that specifies the file system type and mount point.
1

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Right-click on Command Prompt or PowerShell and select “Run as administrator”. Administrator privileges are required to mount file systems.
2

Run memefs with basic options

Execute the following command to mount a RAM disk on drive R:
memefs-x64.exe -i -F NTFS -u "" -m R:
This command:
  • -i: Enables case-insensitive file system (Windows standard)
  • -F NTFS: Sets the file system name to NTFS
  • -u "": Uses disk mode (not network/UNC mode)
  • -m R:: Mounts the RAM disk as drive R:
3

Verify the RAM disk

Open File Explorer and you should see a new drive R: listed. You can now use it like any other drive.
The command window must remain open while the RAM disk is mounted. Closing it will unmount the disk and all data will be lost.

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Command-line options

Memefs provides several options to customize your RAM disk:

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Essential options

OptionDescriptionExample
-mMount point (drive letter or *)-m R:
-FFile system name-F NTFS
-iCase-insensitive file system-i
-uUNC prefix for network mode-u "\\Server\\Share"

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Memory and performance

OptionDescriptionExample
-sMaximum total memory size in bytes-s 4294967296 (4GB)
-fFlush and purge cache on cleanup-f
-lVolume label name-l RamDisk

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Advanced options

OptionDescriptionExample
-dDebug flags (-1 for all)-d -1
-DDebug log file path-D debug.log
-SRoot SDDL security descriptor-S "D:P(A;;FA;;;WD)"

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Common scenarios

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Create a RAM disk with size limit

Limit the RAM disk to 2GB of memory: 
memefs-x64.exe -i -F NTFS -u "" -m R: -s 2147483648
The -s 2147483648 parameter limits total memory usage to 2GB (2 × 1024 × 1024 × 1024 bytes).

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Create a RAM disk with custom label

Give your RAM disk a recognizable name: 
memefs-x64.exe -i -F NTFS -u "" -m R: -l "TempDisk"
The volume will appear as “TempDisk (R:)” in File Explorer.

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Create a RAM disk with all options

A production-ready configuration with 4GB limit and custom label: 
memefs-x64.exe -i -f -F NTFS -u "" -m R: -s 4294967296 -l "RAM Cache"
This command:
  • Creates a case-insensitive NTFS RAM disk
  • Limits memory to 4GB
  • Flushes and purges cache on cleanup
  • Labels the disk as “RAM Cache”
  • Mounts on drive R:

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Network/UNC mode

Mount the RAM disk as a network share instead of a drive letter: 
memefs-x64.exe -i -F NTFS -u "\\memefs\\share" -m *
The RAM disk will be accessible via the UNC path \\memefs\share.
When using UNC mode with -u, you can omit the -m parameter or use -m * to skip drive letter assignment.

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Using with WinFsp launchctl

If you installed the WinFsp Launcher Service component, you can manage memefs using launchctl:

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Start a RAM disk service

launchctl-x64.exe start Memefs ramdisk "" \\.\R:
This uses the default command-line arguments configured during installation: 
-i -F NTFS -l Ram -u %1 -m %2

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Stop the service

launchctl-x64.exe stop Memefs ramdisk

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Check service status

launchctl-x64.exe list
Data stored on the RAM disk is volatile. All data will be lost when:
  • The memefs process is stopped
  • The computer is restarted
  • The system loses power
Always backup important data to permanent storage.

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Troubleshooting

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Drive letter already in use

If you see an error about the mount point being in use, choose a different drive letter: 
memefs-x64.exe -i -F NTFS -u "" -m S:

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Insufficient privileges

Memefs requires administrator privileges. Always run as administrator or you’ll see access denied errors.

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WinFsp not found

If memefs can’t find WinFsp, ensure:
  1. WinFsp is installed correctly
  2. The winfsp-x64.dll is in the same directory as memefs-x64.exe
  3. WinFsp is installed in the default location: C:\Program Files (x86)\WinFsp\

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Next steps

Now that you have a working RAM disk:
  • Configure automatic mounting on startup using Task Scheduler
  • Integrate the RAM disk into your development workflow
  • Experiment with different memory limits and options
  • Monitor memory usage to optimize the -s size parameter
For debug logging and troubleshooting, use the -D option to write logs:
memefs-x64.exe -i -F NTFS -u "" -m R: -d -1 -D debug.log

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