Here’s what Prefetch is:

  1. New to Windows XP
  2. A file caching system
  3. Microsoft says the following:

“Windows XP monitors the files that are used when computer starts and also when you start applications. By monitoring these files, Windows XP 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 and start applications.”

It is recomended to clear your prefetch directory often and, yes, you can manually empty the contents of c:\windows\prefetch. No, there should be no damage from deleting the files you find there.