I read where you can disable the prefetch, but wouldn't that have negative results? I mean having no system cache? The only benefit I can think of is a low memory machine. And I would imagine whats in your system tray taking longer to load no matter what the specs. Hmm.

I had a pc that kept trying to map a drive before the NIC was initialized. I tried everything. Finally when I disabled prefetch it booted slower and allowed the nic to initialize prior to the mapping.

I know it doesn't make much sense but if I re-enable the prefetch it causes the problem again. I am 100% sure that disabling the prefetch fixed my issue.

Mike

Besides the option to * Disable Prefetch three other options exist:
* Application launch only
* Boot File Launch only
* Application and Boot File Launch (Windows default)

I use the Prefetch option of Boot File Launch only with no ill effects. There's a freeware GUI app titled "Windows XP Prefetch Clean and Control" that can be downloaded from this URL:
http://myronlam.uhome.net/main/window/BootVis&XPPrefetch.htm

Well I delete the files in the folder once a month, but I seen someone who wanted to speed up their pc being recommended to disable it (disabling Task Scheduler) then deleting the files in the folder. But I was wondering if the results may be opposite than intended.

Me, personlly, am fine with thw Windows default. I think cleaning it out and changing the parameters would be better than disabling it all together.

From M$:

Optimizing Startup Times by Using Defragmentation Tools

Windows XP Professional monitors the files that are used
when the computer starts and when you start applications.
By monitoring these files, Windows XP Professional can
prefetch them. Prefetching data is the process whereby
data that is expected to be requested is read ahead into
the cache. Prefetching boot files and applications
decreases the time needed to start Windows XP Professional
and start applications.
Prefetching is further improved if the files are located
next to each other on the outer edge of the disk. Windows
XP Professional optimizes the location of boot files and applications when the computer is idle. The optimization
occurs in the background and lasts only a minute or two;
you might hear the hard disk being accessed when
optimization occurs. After the initial optimization takes
place, subsequent optimization occurs, at most, every three days.

When you run the Disk Defragmenter tools that are included
with Windows XP Professional, they can perform any
optimization updates that are scheduled to take place
during the next idle period. The Disk Defragmenter tools
do not disturb the existing layout of optimized boot files and applications.

Note

* Computers running Windows XP Home Edition also prefetch
and optimize boot files and applications.

HOW TO: Set Performance Options in Windows XP

How to Configure Paging Files for Optimization and Recovery in Windows XP

How
to Clear the Windows Paging File at Shutdown

More info here .

The XP Prefetcher
http://www.subvers.com/technobabble/html/tweaks/access.htm
http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=guide&dId=145&dPage=4

The behavior of the Prefetcher is controlled with this DWORD registry key :

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet \Control \Session Manager\Memory Management \PrefetchParameters]
EnablePrefetcher = 3 (Disabled = 0, Application = 1, BootUp = 2, Application AND BootUp = 3)

On the WinXP Home- and Professional- edition both BootUp and Application is prefetched.
On the WinXP Server and beyond only BootUp is prefetched.

The recording of these scenarios is saved in this directory:

C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch

Note that when enabling the prefetcher (Especially for applications) one is also enabling a service which monitors disk reads and memory usage. Which can cause a downgrade in performance.

Note some reports that a setting of 5 or 6 improves their boot time and therefore is a better value than 3. Value 5 equals 1(Bit1) + 4(Bit3) and 6 equals 2(Bit2) + 4(Bit3), since 4(Bit3) is not a valid value then it just means that 5 = BootUp Preteching and 6 = Application Prefetching.

More Info MS KB Q307498