Windows\prefetch folder

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I don't know what it is actually used for but you can regularly delete the
files from it..sometimes when you can't get rid of all the residue files
afer deleting something, cleaning out Prefetch actually gets rid of rubbish
 
THE said:
what is the prefetch folder and what is it used for?
Click to expand...

The files in the Prefetch folder are data files related to enhancing the
speed at which applications start. 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. It is not necessary to delete
files in the Prefetch folder.

Malke
 
THE said:
many thanks
I have 97 files of allsorts, can I safely delete the lot.

:
Click to expand...
Yes but it will only rebuild itself. The data in this file is
used to start applications faster.

gls858
 
Thanks for the detail and help

Malke said:
The files in the Prefetch folder are data files related to enhancing the
speed at which applications start. 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. It is not necessary to delete
files in the Prefetch folder.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Click to expand...
 
Excellent advice.

When I don't know what something is I delete it also. Because of this my
hard drive has a *huge* amount of free space on it.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Hi ... I have a question what if a application is corrupted and You go to
uninstall this application in the add and remove program area , Then just
to reinstall it back after a reboot , Would it still be corrupted if you
didn't deleted the file from the prefetch folder first before reinstalling
it ??
 
RoadRunner said:
Hi ... I have a question what if a application is corrupted and You
go to uninstall this application in the add and remove program area
, Then just to reinstall it back after a reboot , Would it still be
corrupted if you didn't deleted the file from the prefetch folder
first before reinstalling it ??
Click to expand...

No. The prefetch (.pf) file only contains information about what files are loaded and the pattern of the loading for the designated program. None of the actual program files are contained in the prefetch folder.
 
Excellent advice.

When I don't know what something is I delete it also. Because of this my
hard drive has a *huge* amount of free space on it.
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right?
 
Oh ok thanks , Reason as to why I was asking because I seen other places
mention its a good idea to remove whenever there might be a problem with a
program , something to do with corrupt file , but thanks for your input :)

RoadRunner said:
Hi ... I have a question what if a application is corrupted and You
go to uninstall this application in the add and remove program area
, Then just to reinstall it back after a reboot , Would it still be
corrupted if you didn't deleted the file from the prefetch folder
first before reinstalling it ??
Click to expand...

No. The prefetch (.pf) file only contains information about what files are
loaded and the pattern of the loading for the designated program. None of
the actual program files are contained in the prefetch folder.
 
Malke said:
The files in the Prefetch folder are data files related to enhancing the
speed at which applications start. Windows XP Professional monitors the
files that are used when the computer starts and when you start
applications.
Click to expand...
====================
I have XP-Home/SP2 and it has Windows/Prefetch. It's loaded with stuff.....

FS~
 
Windows reads program files in bits and pieces. It reads just what it needs at that moment. But the time overhead is high to read a file lots of times (but saves memory). So prefetch gets all files the program referenced and loads them into the cache. Now when the program loads in dribs and drabs it's reading from the cache and there is little overhead for a read. Mechanical hard drives are slow and take a certain amount of time tp prepare for each read - one thing is that the heads have to be moved and wait for the sector to spin underneath (and it may have to wait for more than one rotation).
 
To end this discussion; Yes, you can safely delete all the contents of the
Windows Prefetch Folder. The quick way: Start/Run/type "prefetch" [minus
quote markers] and click "OK"/when the file opens, click "Edit" on the
Toolbar and then click "Select All"/when all are highlighted, click "File"
and then "Delete" and they are gone. There is at least one system file
involved; however, it will be replaced by the OS.
Gene K
 
If you want to end the discussion then the answer is "DON"T WORRY ABOUT IT AS IT'S NOT A USER'S CONCERN". Perhaps you should restrict yourself to answering things you know about.

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http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/_comment/001075.html
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Gene K said:
To end this discussion; Yes, you can safely delete all the contents of the
Windows Prefetch Folder. The quick way: Start/Run/type "prefetch" [minus
quote markers] and click "OK"/when the file opens, click "Edit" on the
Toolbar and then click "Select All"/when all are highlighted, click "File"
and then "Delete" and they are gone. There is at least one system file
involved; however, it will be replaced by the OS.
Gene K
~ FreeSpirit ~ said:
====================
I have XP-Home/SP2 and it has Windows/Prefetch. It's loaded with
stuff.....

FS~
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
My original reply was written only to answer the original question "can you
safely delete everything in the Prefetch Folder [words to that effect]. Sure
you can. I agree with your "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. etc" also except that it
just raises more questions to be asked. I do know what the Windows Prefetch
file is intended to accomplish although I don't regard myself to be an
expert in very much. You very well may be expert in everything. You
certainly intended your reply to be impertinent to me {Perhaps you should
restrict yourself to answering things you know about]. Congratulations, you
succeeded. In the future, please restrict your insults to your friends and
family.
Gene K

"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
If you want to end the discussion then the answer is "."DON"T WORRY ABOUT IT
AS IT'S NOT A USER'S CONCERN. Perhaps you should restrict yourself to
answering things you know about

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http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/_comment/001075.html
=================================================
Gene K said:
To end this discussion; Yes, you can safely delete all the contents of the
Windows Prefetch Folder. The quick way: Start/Run/type "prefetch" [minus
quote markers] and click "OK"/when the file opens, click "Edit" on the
Toolbar and then click "Select All"/when all are highlighted, click "File"
and then "Delete" and they are gone. There is at least one system file
involved; however, it will be replaced by the OS.
Gene K
~ FreeSpirit ~ said:
====================
I have XP-Home/SP2 and it has Windows/Prefetch. It's loaded with
stuff.....

FS~
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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