That darned Prefetch folder!

With disheartening regularity, I come across articles which recommend deleting the contents of the Prefetch folder in order to improve performance. To quote Microsoft's Steve Riley, "This is a myth that needs to be forcibly dragged out behind the woodshed, strangled until it wheezes its last labored breath, then shot several times for good measure” (ok, so he actually said that about disabling SSID broadcasting, not Prefetch cleaning, but his words are certainly applicable in this case too).

The Prefetch folder is, in fact, entirely and completely self maintaining - it only stores a certain amount of data and data that is non-referenced for 7 days is automatically dropped - and so manual cleaning is not necessary. Furthermore, dumping the contents of the Prefetch folder will actually reduce performance. The contents of the Prefetch folder are used not only to load data and code into memorty before it is demanded (which increases system and application startup times), but also the automatic defragmentation routines. Should Prefetch data be deleted, both of these processes will be impacted and performance will be reduced (see Mark Russinovich and David Solomon's article for more details on the workings of Prefetch).

Where the heck do these myths orginate and why, despite constant debunking, do they prove persistent?

For me its all just plain scare mongering by software houses wanting to put a seed of doubt in the end users mind and then dazzle them with products, whether it be a slick cleanup package or impressive set of performance management utilities. Once one tilts a testing script to prove the prefetch folder is a burden on performance, they all get the hint, manipulate their own test scenario to fit the argument and use it as a selling point. Its just a case of following the bandwagon to chase the bottom line.

Actually, I think that's it part of an Apple conspiracy. Steve Jobs and co. are pushing out these bogus tips in the hope that people will eventually become so disillusioned with their under-performing PCs that they switch to Macs :-)

Maybe so, and very feasible, I've certainly heard rumors of such tactics. The truth is they should concentrate on getting their own ship in order before they scare monger and try to get people panic buying their own architecture. Technology is not bought on a whim, it requires some degree of understanding and appreciation of need. Delivering a viable alternative to Windows with Leopard is a good start, and the Mac certainly is a solid entry level system, but they have little compatibility or the all-encompassing service offerings of a Windows driven PC.

Some people will no doubt scoff at the notion that this is an Apple conspiracy. Those people would, however, be well advised well to remember that other extremely well-known companies are guilty of far worse offences than those of which Steve Jobs and Co. stand accused.