Prefetch Folder

[James Secker]

A quick query for anyone in the know.

What is the Prefetch Folder used for, and why is mine empty? I remember it
once being full of entries, usually of titles of programs I'd been using.
But after doing a re-install of Windows XP recently, this folder is now
empty, no matter what programs I use. My PC works properly though, so I'm
not complaining, just wondering is it an important folder and why it can go
from being full to empty? (Am using Win XP Home Edition with SP1 on a
Gateway P4 with 512 RAM.)

 

[Nick]

do some searches on this topic....read and learn....
ya can't have others do all the leg work...

 

[Nick]

I am too stupid to live.

 

[James Secker]

do some searches on this topic....read and learn....
ya can't have others do all the leg work...

That's a nice helpful response. I think I'll give this usenet thing a miss
if it's full of people like you. What are these newsgroups for then if
you can't ask a query?

 

[Nick]

hey, do what you will.....havin' others do the upfront work is always an
option....for the not so focused peeps...and you know what I mean....

 

[Wesley Vogel]

James;

Windows XP monitors the files that are used when the computer starts and
when you start applications. By monitoring these files, Windows XP 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 and start
applications.
==================

Task Scheduler needs to 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.
=============

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.

 

[mrtee]

To add to Wes's post, I have never had the prefetch folder go over 130 files (about 8 MB) ever.

Just checked it now and it reset at 5 PM today and there are now 60 entries, 4.68 MB. Just let the file take care of itself.

--
Just my 2¢ worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________

| James;
|
| Windows XP monitors the files that are used when the computer starts and
| when you start applications. By monitoring these files, Windows XP 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 and start
| applications.
| ==================
|
| Task Scheduler needs to 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.
| =============
|
| 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.
| --
| Hope this helps. Let us know.
| Wes

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Howdy Jeff;

Haven't seen you 'round these parts lately.

 

[mrtee]

I've been around, not much to say, you guys cover it quite well!

Just for grins & giggles take a look at your Prefetch folder and see how many files are in it.

If it is over 130 I'll be suprised, or can be called an idiot who doesn't know a darn thing.

--
Just my 2¢ worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________

| Howdy Jeff;
|
| Haven't seen you 'round these parts lately.
|
| --
| Hope this helps. Let us know.
| Wes

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Jeff;

I never let not having much to say stop me. )
I want to be right up there with Jack, Barry, Nick
or whoever he is today. ;o) Or that other schlemiel
that I told was as helpful as a screen door on a submarine.
His helpful advice for everything is to reinstall XP.
Why not buy a new machine?

106
But I just pared it down to 74 files.
There were over twenty-something rundll32.exeblahblah.pf's
in there.

What I usually do if I do not know what something is;
is delete it (Just kidding)
I right click | Properties | Copy just the XYZ.exe and paste that into
Search | right click | Properties to see what it is.

I know XP will take care of things, but a clean computer is a
happy computer.

I don't remember the most I've had in there, but I'm sure it's never
been over 130.

Do I get 2¢ now? ;o)

You oughta get a kick out of this. I found it yesterday.

How To Install Software - A 12 Step Program
http://www.thenetworkadministrator.com/how_to_install_software.htm

I copied and Pasted it into Word. I have it with my most
revered documents.

 

[James Secker]

James;

Windows XP monitors the files that are used when the computer starts and
when you start applications. By monitoring these files, Windows XP 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
and start applications.
==================

Task Scheduler needs to 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.
=============

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.

Thanks Wesley, the Regedit bit worked okay. The value was 0, I've now set it
at 3 and my Prefetch folder has started to fill up with PF files. Cheers for
your help.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

James;

Super!