prefetch query

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dallas
  • Start date Start date
Windows, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services.

Task Scheduler? Mine is set to Manual and is not started.

I looked at my Services notes and I did not have a note regarding this
service so I'm pretty sure I didn't turn it off. I wonder what the
Default setting is? Automatic?

Blackviper.com says Automatic is OK on this service. I wonder how it got
turned off?

I notice the layout.ini file is missing in the Prefetch folder but I can
see it in the restored Prefetch folder. I think that may be the problem?

Would it do any harm to restore all the files in the Prefetch folder?
They're from a backup made on 11 April but the newest date on any of the
files is 08 April. That would restore my layout.ini file.
Having just done a quick test I think that Task Scheduler is responsible
for writing all the files in the prefetch folder, it needs to be set to
Automatic start if you want the prefetch folder to populate.

John
Click to expand...
 
When you do a clean Windows XP installation the Task Scheduler service
is set to Automatic start by default. Put it back in Automatic start
and you will (should) see the prefetch folder populating itself.

John
Windows, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services.

Task Scheduler? Mine is set to Manual and is not started.

I looked at my Services notes and I did not have a note regarding this
service so I'm pretty sure I didn't turn it off. I wonder what the
Default setting is? Automatic?

Blackviper.com says Automatic is OK on this service. I wonder how it got
turned off?

I notice the layout.ini file is missing in the Prefetch folder but I can
see it in the restored Prefetch folder. I think that may be the problem?

Would it do any harm to restore all the files in the Prefetch folder?
They're from a backup made on 11 April but the newest date on any of the
files is 08 April. That would restore my layout.ini file.
Having just done a quick test I think that Task Scheduler is
responsible for writing all the files in the prefetch folder, it needs
to be set to Automatic start if you want the prefetch folder to populate.

John
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Starting the Task Scheduler and then setting it to Automatic and
rebooting seems to have fixed everything except there is no layout.ini
file in the prefetch folder.

http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t331072.html

The above web page says I shouldn't have deleted the layout.ini file and
that I need to do somethings to get it back? It says:

DO NOT REMOVE OR DELETE THE ->(layout.ini)<- FILE WHICH RESIDES IN XP'S
PREFETCH FOLDER OR YOU WILL SLOW DOWN YOUR PC AT START UP AND WHEN YOU
OPEN WINDOWS PROGRAMS. Once it is gone it can stay gone on some PC'S
(like mine) for ever and your Prefetch Folder will never work again no
matter what you do in the registry to try to rectify the problem.

What a damned nightmare this turned out to be. Do you think I need to
follow his steps to get my layout.ini file back? Or will it come back on
it's own after a few more reboots?

I really appreciate your help with this situation!
When you do a clean Windows XP installation the Task Scheduler service
is set to Automatic start by default. Put it back in Automatic start
and you will (should) see the prefetch folder populating itself.

John
Windows, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services.

Task Scheduler? Mine is set to Manual and is not started.

I looked at my Services notes and I did not have a note regarding this
service so I'm pretty sure I didn't turn it off. I wonder what the
Default setting is? Automatic?

Blackviper.com says Automatic is OK on this service. I wonder how it
got turned off?

I notice the layout.ini file is missing in the Prefetch folder but I
can see it in the restored Prefetch folder. I think that may be the
problem?

Would it do any harm to restore all the files in the Prefetch folder?
They're from a backup made on 11 April but the newest date on any of
the files is 08 April. That would restore my layout.ini file.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
JD wrote:
....
Blackviper.com says Automatic is OK on this service. I wonder how it
got turned off?
Click to expand...

Hard to say; I've found BlackViper reputable though. If I were you I'd
set it to automatic, Start it while you're in that window, and see what
happens. It won't hurt anything.
I notice the layout.ini file is missing in the Prefetch folder but I
can see it in the restored Prefetch folder. I think that may be the
problem?
Click to expand...

I believe the system should create it if it's missing.
Would it do any harm to restore all the files in the Prefetch folder?
They're from a backup made on 11 April but the newest date on any of
the files is 08 April. That would restore my layout.ini file.
Click to expand...

No idea why people are skipping over that question of yours:

No, restoring pre-fetch from backup would do no harm. However it
wouldn't likely help anything either because it's not something the
machine will be aware of if the folder isn't being serviced.
If you just want to see if it'll kick-start something, it won't hurt
to try. I've seen stranger things work.
I'd be real interested in hearing back if it made any difference for
you.

I think I'd be interested in trying just the .ini file first and perhaps
only one of the pre-fetches. But this is sort of grasping at straws
anyway<g>.

HTH,

Twayne



 
JD said:
Starting the Task Scheduler and then setting it to Automatic and
rebooting seems to have fixed everything except there is no layout.ini
file in the prefetch folder.
Click to expand...

The layout.ini file will be created when you defrag the drive. If you
want to defrag the Prefetch folder only run this command at a Command
Prompt:

defrag c: -b

This will defrag the folder and place the layout.ini file in the folder,
it will only take seconds for the command to run and defrag the folder.

John
 
John said:
The layout.ini file will be created when you defrag the drive. If you
want to defrag the Prefetch folder only run this command at a Command
Prompt:

defrag c: -b

This will defrag the folder and place the layout.ini file in the folder,
it will only take seconds for the command to run and defrag the folder.

John
Click to expand...

layout.ini file has been created using your cmd. Thanks!

What are your feelings regarding the prefetch folder? Leave alone, clean
it every so often or something else?
 
JD said:
layout.ini file has been created using your cmd. Thanks!
Click to expand...

You're welcome. For the benefit of others who may be reading here
looking for help with this, if the layout.ini file isn't created after
running the defrag command try running:

Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

What are your feelings regarding the prefetch folder? Leave alone, clean
it every so often or something else?
Click to expand...

I find that it does increase the loading speed of the applications that
I always run after my computer is started. In this day and age of
computers with fast processors and oodles of RAM I don't see much to
gain by fiddling too much with the Prefectcher, I suppose an occasional
purging or cleaning of the folder to remove old or stale obsolete
entries might make a wee bit of difference in the startup time, nothing
that most users would ever notice much.

John
 
John said:
The layout.ini file will be created when you defrag the drive. If you
want to defrag the Prefetch folder only run this command at a Command
Prompt:

defrag c: -b

This will defrag the folder and place the layout.ini file in the
folder, it will only take seconds for the command to run and defrag
the folder.
John
Click to expand...

OK, I've tried, but I can't avoid it any longer. Here's a pretty good
descrip of the prefetch, defrag -b and so on:

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000024.html

Cheers,

Twayne
 
Twayne said:
OK, I've tried, but I can't avoid it any longer. Here's a pretty good
descrip of the prefetch, defrag -b and so on:

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000024.html

Cheers,

Twayne
Click to expand...

Thanks Twayne. Where the Hell were you yesterday? ;-)

After this 24 hour nightmare I'm not sure I'll ever mess with the
Prefetch folder again. I'm not sure what really happened but it screwed
up my desktop and sound settings. Nothing major, just inconvenience.
 
Looking through my notes, I did not see any reference to turning off the
task scheduler. The default is Automatic and unlike some services, this
particular service is OK with the default setting.

Not sure if I'm going to mess with the prefetch folder anymore.
 
John said:
You're welcome. For the benefit of others who may be reading here
looking for help with this, if the layout.ini file isn't created after
running the defrag command try running:

Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks



I find that it does increase the loading speed of the applications that
I always run after my computer is started. In this day and age of
computers with fast processors and oodles of RAM I don't see much to
gain by fiddling too much with the Prefectcher, I suppose an occasional
purging or cleaning of the folder to remove old or stale obsolete
entries might make a wee bit of difference in the startup time, nothing
that most users would ever notice much.

John
Click to expand...

I'm keeping notes on this little experience but at this time I think I
can leave the prefetch folder alone. I only use a few programs and
rarely uninstall anything so I should be good to go.

Thanks again for your help! And for being so patient.
 
System is scanned for malware, spyware and viruses on a weekly basis.
I'll download the latest defs and check it again.
 
JD said:
Thanks Twayne. Where the Hell were you yesterday? ;-)

After this 24 hour nightmare I'm not sure I'll ever mess with the
Prefetch folder again. I'm not sure what really happened but it
screwed up my desktop and sound settings. Nothing major, just
inconvenience.
Click to expand...

Sorry JD, but I hadn't looked for the link until then. There are some
egoes and attitudes here that can trash good posts so badly there's no
way to know whether any given advice is good or not.
Besides, it's something that any poster here could have found
themselves; there are a gazillion such reputable articles and even more
lucky guesses<g>. It is very wise to attempt one's own homework before
turning to a newsgroup; if nothing else it helps to clear the chaff from
the responses. Newsgroups are much more effective as last resorts IMO.

Twayne
 
Twayne said:
Sorry JD, but I hadn't looked for the link until then. There are some
egoes and attitudes here that can trash good posts so badly there's no
way to know whether any given advice is good or not.
Besides, it's something that any poster here could have found
themselves; there are a gazillion such reputable articles and even more
lucky guesses<g>. It is very wise to attempt one's own homework before
turning to a newsgroup; if nothing else it helps to clear the chaff from
the responses. Newsgroups are much more effective as last resorts IMO.

Twayne
Click to expand...

Live and learn.
 
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