Prefetch problem

[Clark Kent]

I followed some apparently dubious advice gleaned from a tech site that
suggested periodically cleaning out the prefetch folder will spped up
booting and operation of my 'puter.

Since then, I have read that it's probably not a good idea (whoops).

Problem is, the prefetch folder is not filling back up, and my computer
definately seems slower. Everything else is working fine.

Where exactly should the prefetch folder be, and what can I do to get this
function to work again?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Skip]

I hope you deleted the files in the folder and not the
folder.The folder should be in your Winnt folder.Try this
approach next time.

Start
All programs
Accessories
System tools
Disk cleanup

you can select from there what you want cleaned up.I
would not select compress old files,leave that one alone.
....Good luck.

 

[John]

Maybe this applies:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1153282,00.asp
<snip> Point of clarification - forum member MURDOCDV reminded us that
the Task Scheduler is used in auto-tuning operations - it assists in the
creation of prefetch information for prefetching disk-resident code and
data (as we alluded earlier), so it's NOT a good idea to disable the
Task Scheduler. Thanks MURDOCDV!

John
(And I thought you were superman. )

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Hey Superman;
The Prefetch folder should be @
C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch
If it's not there, create one.
Highlight C:\WINDOWS | File | New | Folder | Name it: Prefetch | OK.
As has been mentioned, Task Scheduler needs to be set @ Automatic.
Start | Run | Type: services.msc |OK
Scroll down to and double click Task Scheduler | Startup type: Automatic |
Apply | OK |
Close Services.
Start | Run | Type: regedit |OK
Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory
Management\PrefetchParameters
Look for EnablePrefetcher in the right pane, if the value is not 3,
Double click EnablePrefetcher and change the value to 3.
Values are (0 = disabled, 1 = Application launch prefetching, 2 = Boot
prefetching, 3 = Both prefetching). 3 seems to be the preferred option.
Exit regedit
This will take effect on next reboot.
It will take three boots to rebuild the Prefetch file.
==============================
If for some reason layout.ini {C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\layout.ini}does not get
recreated after three boots, try this:
Start | Run | Type: cmd | OK
Paste: rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks | Enter
At this point, the layout.ini should be rebuilt.
You can force a "boot optimization" by entering the command (in the command
prompt window):
defrag c: -boot | Enter
Open regedit and navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
OptimizeComplete Yes?
Set the LcnStartLocation to zero and the LcnEndLocation to zero
Run the defrag c: -boot again.
This time running "defrag" may take longer.
Again open regedit and navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
OptimizeComplete Yes?
LcnStartLocation
LcnEndLocation
Have the values changed from 0?
===========
By the way Prefetch will purge itself of unused *.pf files.
You don't have to clean it yourself. If you do, don't delete the Prefetch
folder, just the contents.