Prefetch files, Is it safe to delete the folder

[Guest]

Is it safe to delete the entire contents of the Prefetch folder in XP Home. I
am trying to delete IEXPLORE.EXE-27122324.pf I believe it's a virus slowing
my computer down. I have searched and found 4 iexplore files they are.
iexplore C:\Program Files\InternetExplorer
iexplore C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackuninstall$
IEXPLORE.EXE C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch
iexplore C:\ WINDOWS\ServicePackfiles\i386

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

As mentioned earlier, if it's in the prefetch folder you can delete it.
These are not the files themselves, but rather information *about* the files
being used by the system. As to the rest of the files you listed:

iexplore C:\Program Files\InternetExplorer

This is the one that the system is actually using when you run Internet
Explorer.

iexplore C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackuninstall$

This is an older version, a backup of which is housed here in case you
decide to uninstall the most recently installed service pack. It would
replace the newer version that you are currently using.

IEXPLORE.EXE C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch

This is not the file itself, it is information about the file used by the
system for optimization.

iexplore C:\ WINDOWS\ServicePackfiles\i386

This is a backup of the currently used version placed in this folder when
you installed the service pack. Should the one currently in use become
corrupt, a backup can be expanded from this folder to replace it. This is
where the Service Pack places copies of the files that are updated.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org