Disable SuperFetch Caching in Vista - Improve System Performance
Optimizing Windows Prefetching: A Registry Adjustment
Following a recent discussion regarding the SuperFetch service, a valuable point was raised by Daniel Spiewak concerning its efficiency. He suggested that SuperFetch frequently loads incorrect data.
This prompted a recollection of a specific registry modification that allows users to control what Windows caches.
Specifically, it’s possible to configure Windows to only cache files essential for the boot process, rather than all applications.
Implementing the Registry Tweak
It's important to note that the impact of this adjustment on system performance hasn't been definitively confirmed. Like disabling SuperFetch, individual results may vary.
This information is provided to empower users to explore potential optimizations.
Manual Registry Tweak Access the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) via the Start Menu search or the Run dialog box.
Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\
Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters
Within the right-hand pane, locate the EnablePrefetcher key.
Modify its value to one of the following options:
- Disable Caching: 0
- Cache Applications Only: 1
- Cache Boot Files Only: 2
- Cache Everything (default): 3
Post-Modification Steps
A system restart is required for the changes to take effect.
Consider clearing the contents of the \Windows\Prefetch folder after applying this tweak. This will initiate a fresh cache.
However, be aware that the initial boot following the cache clearing may experience a temporary slowdown as Windows rebuilds the cache.