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Resolved Question

Fast Boot vs Prefetch

Mar 21, 2017 11:51AM PDT

I'm curious, since I use Linux, I've not investigated if Windows 10 continues the use of 'Prefetch' in addition to it's newer "Fast Boot" method? If so, other than turning of "Fast Boot" is there a choice of one or the other exclusively?

Discussion is locked

James Denison has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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And we have Fast Startup as well.
Mar 21, 2017 12:05PM PDT
https://www.howtogeek.com/243901/the-pros-and-cons-of-windows-10s-fast-startup-mode/

In one of the systems of fast boot, the hardware in the PC is initialized in PARALLEL rather than one device then the next. This works for most PCs but there are some PCs that must have this turned off.

I'm going to hit pause here since there are way too many web pages about prefetch.

For most folk, all this is just turned on or never tinkered with. On a nice PC with SSD I see power on to internet access times about 10 to 20 seconds. That's pretty fast.
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simpler question
Mar 25, 2017 9:06AM PDT

Is the Prefetch folder and function still in windows 10? I'm out of town right now and don't have a 10 nearby to check myself.

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Superfetch
Mar 25, 2017 9:16AM PDT

Looks to be in W7 and onward (yes.)

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I wonder then...
Mar 25, 2017 9:37AM PDT

...what the rationale is for using both?

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I did not grind this finely.
Mar 25, 2017 10:16AM PDT

That's beyond the question so I didn't get any deeper. It exists so my answer was as-is.

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SSD's
Mar 25, 2017 10:12AM PDT
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Superfetch does the same with SSD use
Mar 25, 2017 10:37AM PDT

according to a wiki on it.

My guess is that prefetch and superfetch only come into play when a new Fast Boot file is being created, since that information should also be contained in that file. If it's not included in the Fast Boot file, then windows must access it at some time, maybe AFTER the Fast Boot. I'm guessing, even hoping, for windows users, those "fetch" folder and files is updated realtime if used in Fast Boot file , or each time a new Fast Boot file is created due to a Reset, the "fetch" function would be lagging behind.

I'm thinking for windows 10 users, those using an HDD, might be better to just turn off the Superfetch function if using Fast Boot, and leave it on if Fast Boot use is discontinued.