Prefetch Files

In Windows 8, you can find prefetch files at C:\Windows\Prefetch . These files have the extension .pf. The files are used by Windows to help applications start up faster. Metadata in the files tracks how often applications are used, when they are used, and which files the applications utilize.

Nirsoft has another great utility which allows you to view the content for these files. It's available for download here. WinPrefetchView will automatically find your prefetch files and automatically index their metadata.

As you can see this utility gives you a list of how many times an application has been used, and when it was last used in the columns to the right.

Shadow Explorer

The Tip of the Night for October 8, 2015 discussed Volume Snapshot copies in Windows. Windows will automatically make copies of data on users' hard drives. Shadow Explorer is an application which allows you to access different shadow copies from a drop down menu, and export individual back-up folders that you want to export (just right click).

It is particularly useful for Windows 8 users who don't have a GUI interface to access the shadow copies their operating systems generate.

Windows backup

Windows 7 contains a built-in back-up system. To access it right click on a drive letter in Windows Explorer and select Properties, then click on the Tools tab.

As you can see you have the option to back up the files on the drive. When you click on 'Back up now . . .', you will get option to create a system image or set up a backup.