Some users who like to rummage through system directories often come across the Prefetch directory. What kind of folder is in front of the user in this case, not everyone knows. Let's try to fill the knowledge gaps about what this directory is for and what data it contains.
Prefetch: what kind of folder
We will begin consideration of the issue by submitting theoretical material. At startup, the operating system monitors the boot process, saving all the data about it to speed up the subsequent launch in the Prefetch directory. What is the folder in front of us?
In fact, this is a directory on your computer’s hard drive that contains up-to-date data, parameters, and components of the full system boot cycle and the launch of the most frequently used programs.
In order not to download all components from scratch the next time, Windows also uses the data stored on the hard drive. Some users, however, argue that for each subsequent start of the system, the information stored in the Prefetch directory becomes outdated. Therefore, from their point of view, from time to time you need to clear the Prefetch directory. What kind of Prefetch folder is a little clear. But far from all cleaning lovers know that the data in it is overwritten automatically after each start or launch of the application.
Let's look at the practical side of the issue of deleting its contents. A little later we will talk about how to disable the use of the download acceleration function, if it really bothers someone too much.
Prefetch folder on Windows 7 and above: is it worth it to clean
Removing data from this directory will not cause any critical changes to the system or installed programs.
But all those who absolutely claim that after deleting information from this directory, loading the system and launching applications will become faster. Quite the opposite, because the system or program will have to re-launch its own modules, placing them in the RAM or virtual memory of a computer device, and this takes time. Using data from the Prefetch directory significantly reduces the time spent on these processes. Therefore, cleaning up by and large is undesirable, especially - to delete the folder itself.
It is important to understand that during subsequent downloads, process data will still be saved. So cleaning and removal will turn out to be what is commonly called "Sisyphus labor."
Managing Prefetch Directory Content
If someone does not need this service, you can get rid of it. To do this, go to the registry editor (regedit command in the "Run" menu, called by a combination of Win + R).
Here you need to select the HKLM branch, and then go down to the memory inspection section through the system directory (SYSTEM) and the settings for the current control parameters (CurrentControlSet), where the desired PrefetchParameters directory is located. It contains keys in the format 0x0000000z, where "z" can take four values:
- 0 - complete shutdown;
- 1 - acceleration only launch programs;
- 2 - optimization of Windows boot only;
- 3 - full use of the function (both for the system and for applications).
The same settings can be made in the Group Policy Editor or in the computer administration tools.
It remains to add that the directory is located in the system partition along the Windows / Prefetch path. What kind of folder and what is it for, I think, is already clear. If you give a little advice in the end, it is better not to deal with cleaning the contents of the directory or changing the service settings that are installed on the system by default.