Indexing Service..

  • Thread starter Thread starter JD
  • Start date Start date
J

JD

I have decided to turn of XP's Indexing Service on my HD and when I did
that, while it was "applying attributes" to everything on the HD I got
Errors for about 10 files. The Error was "Access is denied."

Two examples of two of the errors:

C:\ProgramFiles\CommonFiles\Ado...\ActiveX

C:\WIN...ADOBEUPDATER.EXE-1AB51BCE.pf

I kept hitting Ignore and saved the first few error windows and then
finally just hit Ignore All.

Have I broken something?

I also went into Services and Disabled Indexing Services there. Is this OK?
 
:




Hi JD,
Your computer may be infected with viruses and malwares, so try to clean up
by scanning on line for both.
For scan online go here:
http://www.pandasecurity.com
http://www.sophos.com
http://www.avast.com
http://www.trendmicro.com
For malwares:
install, then run the updates to get the new definitions and scan for
malwares:
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
http://www.safer-networking.org for Spybot S&D
BTW, Adobe extension will end with PDF not PF, the spyware would like to
trick you and your system.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass
Click to expand...

I don't think that is the problem. I scan with Avast, Spybot
Search&Destroy, SuperAntiSpyware and I use Spyware Blaster.

The file ADOBEUPDATER.EXE-1AB51BCE.pf is located in C:\Windows\Prefetch
and I don't think it's a .pdf file.
 
That is not the problem, some people, rather than helping, seem to like to
blame everything on viri or spyware. I can't tell you the cause, but I can
tell you it's normal, does that on every PC I do it to.

--
 
All the files in the Prefetch folder have the extension .pf and when I
click on the file in question, it's attribute shows it is not being
indexed so I think the cause is MicroSoft? Just one of those MS things.
The file is not write only so that's not the problem. I'm not going to
worry about it but I will download Filealyzer and take a look at the
file that way. Just out of curiosity.
 
JD said:
I don't think that is the problem. I scan with Avast, Spybot
Search&Destroy, SuperAntiSpyware and I use Spyware Blaster.

The file ADOBEUPDATER.EXE-1AB51BCE.pf is located in
C:\Windows\Prefetch and I don't think it's a .pdf file.
Click to expand...

No, a .pf file is NOT a .pdf file; world of difference and uses.
..pf is a profile.
 
nass said:
Hi JD,
Your computer may be infected with viruses and malwares, so try to
clean up by scanning on line for both.
For scan online go here:
http://www.pandasecurity.com
http://www.sophos.com
http://www.avast.com
http://www.trendmicro.com
For malwares:
install, then run the updates to get the new definitions and scan for
malwares:
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
http://www.safer-networking.org for Spybot S&D
BTW, Adobe extension will end with PDF not PF, the spyware would like
to trick you and your system.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass
Click to expand...

That's silly advice; where the heck do you get that idea from? Rhetorical,
don't answer.
 
nass said:
So can you or dave explain for me what can help the OP in
this matter, C:\WIN...ADOBEUPDATER.EXE-1AB51BCE.pf, if it
doesn't belong to Adobe PDF and I can't see Adobe will
create a profile and call it something else rather than PDF.
And nobody asked if the OP have Adobe or not?.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass
Click to expand...

It's a prefetch file located in the C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch folder.
Get it, .pf -> prefetch. Look on your computer. Odds are that
there's a similarly named file on your computer.

The Prefetch folder contains information that helps Windows
load programs faster. The presence of that file on the OP's
computer is not a cause for concern.

Nepatsfan
 
..pf files have NOTHING to do with .pdf files.

<quote>
Prefetch files are essentially a resource list. Any time a program is
executed, Windows XP will attempt to find a pre-existing prefetch file, and
if it's available, it will use it to make the application load up faster.
The file will also be updated after it is accessed, so that the more an
application is used, the bigger the drop in loading time (to a point). If
the application doesn't already have an associated prefetch file, Windows XP
will create one. Those files are stored in the \%windir%\prefetch directory.
One important note is that the process depends on the Task Scheduler
service. If the Task Scheduler service isn't running, the prefetch mechanism
isn't used and the files won't be read or updated.
<quote>
http://www.filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=pf

What Prefetching does...
[[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.]]
Optimizing Startup Times by Using Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_uutk.asp

Benchmarking on Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/benchmark.mspx

Logical Prefetcher in WinXP
http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/tweak.html#MFT_LOG

Performance Enhancements in Windows® XP
http://windowsxp.devx.com/articles/perfen/default.asp

Prefetch
From …
Windows XP: Kernel Improvements Create a More Robust, Powerful, and Scalable
OS
Mark Russinovich and David Solomon
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/12/XPKernel/default.aspx

Optimizing Startup Times by Using Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_uutk.asp

Use XP's Prefetch feature to improve system performance
http://search.techrepublic.com.com/...refetch+feature+to+improve+system+performance

Windows XP Performance
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpperf.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
All .pf files are prefetch files. Why do you care if .pf files get indexed
or not, they are normally not searchable.

<quote>
Prefetch files are essentially a resource list. Any time a program is
executed, Windows XP will attempt to find a pre-existing prefetch file, and
if it's available, it will use it to make the application load up faster.
The file will also be updated after it is accessed, so that the more an
application is used, the bigger the drop in loading time (to a point). If
the application doesn't already have an associated prefetch file, Windows XP
will create one. Those files are stored in the \%windir%\prefetch directory.
One important note is that the process depends on the Task Scheduler
service. If the Task Scheduler service isn't running, the prefetch mechanism
isn't used and the files won't be read or updated.
<quote>
http://www.filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=pf

..pf files can be opened with Notepad.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PF]
@="pf_auto_file"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pf has no PersistentHandler key.

Using the "A word or phrase in the file" search criterion may not work
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309173

To configure Indexing Service
Paste the following line into Start | Run and click OK...

hh isconcepts.chm::/ISMain-procedures_30.htm

To index files with unknown extensions
Paste the following line into Start | Run and click OK...

hh isconcepts.chm::/ISMain-procedures_3d.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
This link was incorrect...
Logical Prefetcher in WinXP
http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/tweak.html#MFT_LOG

This is the new one...
19. Logical Prefetcher in WinXP
http://smallvoid.com/tweak/winnt/tweak.html#WINXP_PREFETCH

This link was also incorrect...
Optimizing Startup Times by Using Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_uutk.asp

Ctrl + F for:
Optimizing Startup Times by Using Defragmentation Tools
here...
Windows XP Professional Resource Kit
Troubleshooting Disks and File Systems
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c28621675.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Wesley Vogel said:
.pf files have NOTHING to do with .pdf files.

<quote>
Prefetch files are essentially a resource list. Any time a program is
executed, Windows XP will attempt to find a pre-existing prefetch file,
and if it's available, it will use it to make the application load up
faster. The file will also be updated after it is accessed, so that the
more an application is used, the bigger the drop in loading time (to a
point). If the application doesn't already have an associated prefetch
file, Windows XP will create one. Those files are stored in the
\%windir%\prefetch directory. One important note is that the process
depends on the Task Scheduler service. If the Task Scheduler service
isn't running, the prefetch mechanism isn't used and the files won't be
read or updated. <quote>
http://www.filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=pf

What Prefetching does...
[[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.]]
Optimizing Startup Times by Using Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_uutk.asp

Benchmarking on Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/benchmark.mspx

Logical Prefetcher in WinXP
http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/tweak.html#MFT_LOG

Performance Enhancements in Windows® XP
http://windowsxp.devx.com/articles/perfen/default.asp

Prefetch
From …
Windows XP: Kernel Improvements Create a More Robust, Powerful, and
Scalable OS
Mark Russinovich and David Solomon
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/12/XPKernel/default.aspx

Optimizing Startup Times by Using Defragmentation Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_uutk.asp

Use XP's Prefetch feature to improve system performance
http://search.techrepublic.com.com/...refetch+feature+to+improve+system+performance

Windows XP Performance
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpperf.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
nass said:
So can you or dave explain for me what can help the OP in this matter,
C:\WIN...ADOBEUPDATER.EXE-1AB51BCE.pf, if it doesn't belong to Adobe PDF
and I can't see Adobe will create a profile and call it something else
rather than PDF.
And nobody asked if the OP have Adobe or not?.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
:




JD,
Do you have Adobe and What version is it?.
I said Scan to check if all okay, the name looks fishy to me, scanning
doesn't hurt.
If you have Adobe try to uninstall it and try running indexing service and
see if you will get the error then install the Adobe.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass
Click to expand...

If you look at my reply to Dave B who said when he turned off Indexing
Services he got the same errors and did what I did, just Ignore All.

Maybe you missed my point, I'm turning Off Indexing. I was just curious
about the error and it appears to be a minor glitch in XP. I took a look
at the Properties of the file in question and it is not being Indexed.
My job is done. Thanks for trying to help.
 
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