[stantley]

To Bold_Fortune:

Well, I ran across that list and liked it so much I copied it into a text file, but I forgot to bookmark the site where I got it from, so thanks for posting it so I can refer back to it. I also liked it so much I thought I'd share it with the readers of this board and we now know to thank Bold Fortune for creating it.

The Find Junk Files program has a similar list, but not as extensive as yours, so I found it useful to add some of yours to the program to create a wider search for potential junk files.

There was a whole lot of useful information in the 'Slimming Down Windows XP' articles. Thanks for putting that out there.

[Kenny94]

Clean out Windows XP's Prefetch folder to speed up boot times.

By Greg Shultz AT: http://techrepublic.com.com/?tag=nl.e064

Takeaway:
Windows XP's Prefetch folder stores information about each program you launch; then, on subsequent restarts, XP uses the information in the folder to preload parts of those programs at boot time. Find out why you need to clean out the Prefetch folder periodically to keep boot times from dragging.

One of Microsoft's big selling points for Windows XP was that it loads applications much faster than its predecessors. To accomplish this feat, Windows XP uses what is called the "Prefetch technique," in which the operating system gathers information about each program that you launch and stores that information in the \Windows\Prefetch folder. Then on subsequent restarts, Windows XP uses the information in the Prefetch folder to essentially preload parts of those programs at boot time. Thus, when you launch your application, it appears to load really fast.

However, the Prefetch folder can accumulate too much information over time. This makes the operating system so busy loading bits and pieces of lots of applications into memory that it ends up slowing down the boot process. Fortunately, you can clean out the Prefetch folder at any time. Follow these four steps:

Access the Run dialog box by pressing [Windows]R.
Type Prefetch in the Open text box and click OK.
Press [Ctrl]A to select all the files.
Press [Delete].
As you use your system, Windows XP will rebuild the contents of the Prefetch folder.

[WhitPhil]

Much as I respect the articles at TechRepublic, I think this one is incorrect (as one of the reviewers noted at the bottom of the article).

Windows does NOT prefetch ALL programs listed in the Prefetch folder, at boot time!!

There are 2 options: one to speedup boot times, and one to speed up Applications. The application portion occurs as you start the particular application, not at boot time.

Reference

[welsh-jon]

Woo Hoo!.... I love it when I ask a simple question and good folks fight over the right answers. I'll have to think up some more, sit back, and watch the fun. LOL No, really, I think that simple questions like mine help and empower so many other folk out there (like me..) to solve a problem with a little part of their world. Many thanks ALL!
Jon

[Kenny94]

Originally Posted by WhitPhil

Much as I respect the articles at TechRepublic, I think this one is incorrect (as one of the reviewers noted at the bottom of the article).

Windows does NOT prefetch ALL programs listed in the Prefetch folder, at boot time!!

There are 2 options: one to speedup boot times, and one to speed up Applications. The application portion occurs as you start the particular application, not at boot time.

Reference

WhitPhil, I'm one of the readers that mostly agree on this article. Like Greg Shultz said: "I've not recommended that you clean out the folder everyday nor that you disable this feature nor expect immediate performance results". http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-111...sageID=1813480

CCleaner cleans old prefetch data for U anyways.

[WhitPhil]

Kenny:

My point was not in regard to whether one should periodically delete files from the prefetch folder. Rather, it was in regard to how the feature was being described.

The article states that ALL files in the prefetch folder are loaded at boot time. That is not correct.
It prefetchs those involved in the boot process, during boot up. And, when a particular application is launched,files specifically related to it, are prefetched.

And, yes Windows repopulates it. BUT, then the process restarts at square one.

Every time an application is run (or a boot occurs), the files in the prefetch folder get optimized/tuned. Thus, hopefully, making subsequent boots and executions faster.

[Kenny94]

WhitPhil,
You're right. The article feature was being described somewhat off beat..

On another note: The next version of Windows finally has an official name: Windows Vista visit: http://news.com.com/Longhorns+new+na...ml?tag=nl.e498