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I thought I'd heard that Windows 10 automatically loads all files on the desktop to the RAM or at least loads them to the vram on startup, specifically through superfetch. I heard that this can slow down your pc's startup. However, I'm not seeing this anywhere. Is this true?
Mark Deven
Posted 2019-04-23T20:37:17.083
Reputation: 1 101
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The desktop is provided as a convenience for the user. Typically it would contain shortcuts to frequently used applications. But Windows itself has no interest in what you put there. There are documented methods for running applications at startup, such as the startup folder. The desktop is not one of these methods. Applications may be loaded into memory by Superfetch. Superfetch has it's own methods and doesn't look at the desktop. Applications on the desktop may run at startup but it will not be because they are there.
The only thing on the desktop that is loaded into memory are the file icons, names, and what is needed to display them.
LMiller7
Posted 2019-04-23T20:37:17.083
Reputation: 1 849
I think I must have misunderstood it loading the file icons. Thanks. – Mark Deven – 2019-04-24T15:30:53.523
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No, not per se.
Superfetch observes your apps use and then applies its algorithms to decide what to preload. If the icons on your Windows 10 desktop link to apps which you don't use, those apps will not be loaded.
K7AAY
Posted 2019-04-23T20:37:17.083
Reputation: 6 962
Can you share exactly what you heard? Windows can automatically load files. Does not mean it will load every file into memory – Ramhound – 2019-04-23T21:07:29.417
That is exactly what I heard. . . – Mark Deven – 2019-04-23T22:27:21.503