Windows - Speeding up filesystems

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms940846.aspx

Disabling Last Access Time Stamps

If you are using an NTFS file system, you can increase the performance of EWF by disabling the last access date/time stamps.

To disable Last Access timestamps

• Create the following registry key on your run-time image:

  Key Name: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
  Name: NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate
  Type: REG_DWORD
  Value: 1

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/fsutil_behavior.mspx?mfr=true

Fsutil: behavior

Queries the current settings for generating 8.3 character-length file names, allowing extended characters in 8.3 character-length file names on NTFS volumes, updating the last access timestamp on NTFS volumes, how often quota events are written to the system log, and the size of the master file table (MFT) Zone. Enables or disables the use of 8.3 character-length file names, allowing extended characters in 8.3 character-length file names on NTFS volumes, and updating the last access timestamp on NTFS volumes. Enables you to change how often quota events are written to the system log and to change the amount of disk space reserved for the MFT Zone.

http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp