What is the windows prefetch file?
The prefetch file or folder? The prefetch folder holds data that is used
used to optimize the layout of files according to use. In other words,
files belonging to most often used programs will be strategically
positioned on the drive for fast retrieval/better performance.
Every three days or so, XP checks that folder and, during idle moments,
will move some of these files around. Running the disk defragmenter will
also refer to Prefetch.
I think that the changes are most noticeable on a newer setup of XP (one or
two weeks old). As the setup ages, it's not as noticeable since the system
will move to maintaining optimization instead of creating it from square
one.
The prefetch folder does its own housekeeping as well. You can flush out
the contents and let it start over on the tracking but it's not really
necessary to do so.
