prefetch folder

[Guest]

Before I go and start deleteing, I just need to know "what are the Prefetch
folders?"

 

[lvee]

It's information that once used is stored so that the computer doesn't have
to search for those files every time you access them, however, there is no
need to empty it. The items will repopulate the next time you run the
computer, it's the exact same number of files, no more no less before and
after emptying them and it will make no difference in the speed or
performance of your computer. Lots of debate over the Prefetch folder, but
if you try it yourself, you'll see that there is no difference, in fact the
pc may be a bit slower until those folders are populated.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You don't have to delete the Prefetch folder.

Prefetch:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/12/XPKernel/
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/benchmark.mspx

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Before I go and start deleteing, I just need to know "what are the Prefetch
folders?"

 

[Bob I]

That's what XP uses to minimize program startup times.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Before I go and start deleteing, I just need to know "what are the
Prefetch folders?"

As a rule of thumb, do not delete any folders being located in the
%windir% directory.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpperf.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/fastboot/fastboot-winxp.mspx

 

[mikeyhsd]

every time you run a program, that information is kept in the prefetch folder.
supposedly at defrag it re-arranges the programs so they boot/load faster.
everyone with superman eyes can tell the millisecond difference in boot times and load times.
it supposed to expire the items occasionally, but frequently does not.

it is recommended to occasionally delete all the items in the prefetch folder, NOT the folder just the data there.


there is no harm, as it is repopulated with more data.
best to delete the data just before defrag.




(e-mail address removed)



Before I go and start deleteing, I just need to know "what are the Prefetch
folders?"