New to Windows XP™ Microsoft introduced the Prefetch component: It remembers which file segments a program reads into memory once an application is started. If the user, for example, double-clicks on the link to Microsoft Word, a large number of files are read into memory in the background, even though usually only certain segments of these files are needed to start the program. This makes the hard drive’s reading head jump from file to file in order to collect all of the necessary information. This takes time and leads to considerable delays in starting the program!
“Prefetch” remembers these segments and stores them in a file in the folder “Windows\Prefetch”. By clicking on Microsoft Word, users now save time since those files and data needed to start the program have already been preloaded.
The “Superfetch” technology in Windows Vista™ also speeds up loading times for applications. It "learns" over time which programs users run most often. For example, if you frequently start the Media Player and Firefox after switching on the computer, Superfetch preloads the data needed to run these applications into your system memory. This means, your programs will be ready whenever you need them, because now the significantly slower hard drive no longer has to do the work!
Myths exposed: False tips
Unfortunately there are a lot of false tips and information about Prefetch and Superfetch on the Internet. Even reputable online magazines and trade magazines sometimes erroneously publish this information, thereby causing even more confusion. If you are lucky, these myths about optimization will have no effect on your PC. More often than not, however, they even slow down system performance! Read on to find out what is true and what is not.
MYTH:
To speed up loading times for programs, you should regularly empty the Prefetch folder.
TRUTH:
Keep away from the Prefetch folder! Emptying this folder immediately slows down run times until Windows has once again compiled all required Prefetch information and this is a long and slow process. Windows automatically cleans up the folder.
MYTH:
Disable Prefetch in the Registry Editor to save memory!
TRUTH:
Prefetch does not use up memory unnecessarily. Disabling it actually increases loading times for programs.
MYTH:
You should disable Superfetch in Windows Vista™. This speeds up the boot process and saves memory!
TRUTH:
Superfetch preloads those applications into memory that are used most. However this is only happens if Windows does not execute any other write or read accesses. Disabling Superfetch therefore does not affect the time it takes to launch Windows.
What’s more, disabling Superfetch does not save memory. By doing so, memory remains unused and empty – a true waste of your computer's resources! It is therefore better for Superfetch to fill the memory with this data thereby improving your system’s performance. Please note: If a program is started that is not immediately recognized by Superfetch, this does not mean that there is no memory available to run this program. Windows empties a portion of the memory used by Superfetch within a few milliseconds so that the program can immediately use it.
Source: TuneUp Utilities promo e-mail
“Prefetch” remembers these segments and stores them in a file in the folder “Windows\Prefetch”. By clicking on Microsoft Word, users now save time since those files and data needed to start the program have already been preloaded.
The “Superfetch” technology in Windows Vista™ also speeds up loading times for applications. It "learns" over time which programs users run most often. For example, if you frequently start the Media Player and Firefox after switching on the computer, Superfetch preloads the data needed to run these applications into your system memory. This means, your programs will be ready whenever you need them, because now the significantly slower hard drive no longer has to do the work!
Myths exposed: False tips
Unfortunately there are a lot of false tips and information about Prefetch and Superfetch on the Internet. Even reputable online magazines and trade magazines sometimes erroneously publish this information, thereby causing even more confusion. If you are lucky, these myths about optimization will have no effect on your PC. More often than not, however, they even slow down system performance! Read on to find out what is true and what is not.
MYTH:
To speed up loading times for programs, you should regularly empty the Prefetch folder.
TRUTH:
Keep away from the Prefetch folder! Emptying this folder immediately slows down run times until Windows has once again compiled all required Prefetch information and this is a long and slow process. Windows automatically cleans up the folder.
MYTH:
Disable Prefetch in the Registry Editor to save memory!
TRUTH:
Prefetch does not use up memory unnecessarily. Disabling it actually increases loading times for programs.
MYTH:
You should disable Superfetch in Windows Vista™. This speeds up the boot process and saves memory!
TRUTH:
Superfetch preloads those applications into memory that are used most. However this is only happens if Windows does not execute any other write or read accesses. Disabling Superfetch therefore does not affect the time it takes to launch Windows.
What’s more, disabling Superfetch does not save memory. By doing so, memory remains unused and empty – a true waste of your computer's resources! It is therefore better for Superfetch to fill the memory with this data thereby improving your system’s performance. Please note: If a program is started that is not immediately recognized by Superfetch, this does not mean that there is no memory available to run this program. Windows empties a portion of the memory used by Superfetch within a few milliseconds so that the program can immediately use it.
Source: TuneUp Utilities promo e-mail
