What does this folder do?

[blarney]

I noticed a folder in windows named "Prefetch" is has many files some
of which are spyware exes that show on my computer. Can these files
or folder be deleted withpout causing any problems?
Thank you

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Yes. Windows XP will rebuild that file after a couple of reboots.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

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:

| I noticed a folder in windows named "Prefetch" is has many files some
| of which are spyware exes that show on my computer. Can these files
| or folder be deleted withpout causing any problems?
| Thank you

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I noticed a folder in windows named "Prefetch" is has many files some
of which are spyware exes that show on my computer. Can these files
or folder be deleted withpout causing any problems?

That folder should consist of the file "Layout.ini" and more or less
files with the .pf extension only. If there are any .exe files in that
folder, you can delete them safely. If these files are 'in use', you
can't delete them anyway. Note that these .exe files may re-appear as
long as your system isn't clean.

 

[Winux P]

Yes you can delete without any problems and disable the prefetch folder
without any consequences as well. Some argue it improves system performance
by doing so.

- Winux P

 

[Guest]

Its upsurd that disabling/removing the prefetch folder would improve
performance UNLESS tha amount of RAM in the machine is minimal or there
normally isn't much free, or your CPU is ancient (IE: an older Pentium 2 or
older), in which case you shouldn't be using xp.