Place Windows Kernel into RAM

Yes.

This is why people (Gamers usually), use harddrives that have a spindle speed of 10,000, or 15,000RPM.
Also why people use SSD harddrives. (Solid State Drive)

(Problem is those harddrives have a small storage capacity, in relation to harddrives that spin at a slower spindle speed.

One example; 1TB harddrive that has a spindle speed of 7,200RPM, compared to 10,000RPM harddrive with only 150GB )

To really improve the performance past that Bob, make sure you have the Ram Memory maxed out.

If the laptop for example, has 1GB of ram memory, and will support up to 4GB; this is the way to go.

Also, let's say the laptop uses DDR2 Sdram at 667MHz.
(PC2-5300 that is SO-DIMM)

But can support DDR2 Sdram at 800MegaHertz.
(PC2-6400 that is SO-DIMM)

It is BETTER to have MORE ram memory, than it is to have faster ram memory.

The first memory area for the Processor is the Cache.
(L1, and L2. Newer processors? L3)

This is a small memory area for the Processor.
Operates at same frequency rate ('Speed') as the Processor does.
Therefore it is the first memory area the Processor accesses.

Next in line is the Ram Memory.
Ram Memory typically operates at HALF, of the Processor's FSB.
(Front Side Bus)

Do not have enough ram memory? Then a small memory area is created on the harddrive. VIRTUAL memory.

Virtual memory is typically 1-1/2 times the ram memory.

More ram memory, faster computer.

Next memory area is the harddrive.
IDE (PATA) and SATA harddrives are mechanical.

As such they are way slow, in comparison to the frequency rate ('Speed'), that ram memory operates at, much less the Processor's cache.

SSD harddrive? Still doesn't operate as fast.

Want to speed your computer up even more?
Delete anything off of your harddrive, that you are not using.
(NOTHING Windows, though)

Programs, and applications.
Copy off personal documents.
Personal documents being photos, videos, music, and personal documents you have created, or downloaded.

The more stuff on a harddrive, the slower the computer.
Hit 50 percent full? You start to notice.
Hit 70 percent full? You REALLY start noticing now.

Also use a registry cleaner. (I use CCleaner. It's FREE, and works as well as paid for versions, plus better than some)

Cookies, and fragmented files take up room also.
Delete a program, photo, video, music, whatever; and bits of fragmented files are left over.

The more room on a harddrive, the faster the computer.
Remember back when the computer was new?

For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/hard-disk.htm

Depends on what Memory you are referring to, yampratwum

1) Cache for a Processor;

A small memory area on the Processor.
(L1 and L2. Some Processors also went to L3 cache)
Cache operates at the same frequency rate ('Speed') as the Processor.

It is the First memory area the Processor accesses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_cache

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cache.htm

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/How-The-Memory-Cache-Works/481

2) Ram Memory;

Volatile memory.
Once the computer is turned off, all memory stored in Ram Memory is GONE.
Ram Memory typically operates at half, of the frequency rate of the Processor's Front Side Bus. (FSB)

It is the Second memory area that the Processor accesses.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm

3) Harddrive; (Hard Drive. Hard Disk Drive)

This is the Third memory area the Processor accesses.

There is also a small memory area on the harddrive.
This is it's Cache. It is called the Buffer.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/hard-disk.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_buffer

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/177

4) Virtual Memory;

An area on the harddrive that Windows has allotted.
Rule of thumb is Virtual Memory is one and one-half, (1-1/2) the amount of Ram Memory.

Example;
2GigaByte (2GB) of Ram Memory?
Typically Virtual Memory will be 3GB.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_memory

5) BIOS;
Basic Input/Output System
A program that is flashed to an EEPROM chip. The BIOS chipset.
Another small memory area.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/bios.htm

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-memory.htm

Regards,
joecoolvette

joe is right
not having enough ram will put added presure on your CPU central processing unit causing memory dump which causes a computer to shutdown

You BET! Max it out when you buy the RAM. This is where all of your open OS files and running programs reside when the computer is on and running. It is very fast live memory - and when it fills up during use, anything else that cannot fit goes back to the hard drive in whats called "Virtual memory" or "swap file" - significantly slower.
I can say with certainty that if you max out your ram everything will work much faster! and that hourglass will become a scarce event.

If you mean an USB pendrive/stick, these are much slower than hard drives.
There are so-called SSD - Solid State Disks, which have a special construction (many Flash banks running in parallel) enabling them to offer transfer speeds comparable to a hard disk. These come as ATA or SATA drives that you connect just as you would a traditional hard disk.