Dave,
OK, I found the Prefetch Folder right where you said it would be but I'm afraid to delete all that stuff, it's full of stuff. Files like "Snood.exe" that's a game I play. Don't I need that file to execute the game? Also "rundll32" I recognize that windows dll from something I don't remember. Some of the other files are "setup.exe" "adobeupd", "dfrgntfs", "defrag.exe". There are a whole lot more.
ABOUT THE PREFETCH FOLDER
Lets look again at the title of that folder
'p r e f e t c h'
I wonder WHY they called it that ?
Every time you LIGHT-UP your PC ?
IT, wants to know what ? YOU WANT to do
You, are not conversing with it
It doesn't 'know' what to do next ?
So it resorts to settings and applications
that were running, the very last time you had it on ?
Your PC needs to store this information TEMPORARILY
so that it can refer to ALL of those little details
and provide your 'required services'
Your PC is designed to be able to start up the WINDOWS SYSTEM/ PLATFORM
but, details
concerning, other connections / 3rd party software
are required as-well
The Prefetch Folder then,
is one such place that your PC uses
to refer to say;
RECENT INSTALLATION SOFTWARE,
The 'present settings' for programs /software prior to shutdown
A record of various queries AND > WHAT WORKS for-you
Every time you use your PC ...
it is tracking and logging EVERYTHING, you do,
everywhere, you visit and game and utility 'SCORES'
Just by visiting a page on the internet
will mean that your PC will use several [perhaps MANY] bytes
to store that information
Over Time, these records, can, build into a sizeable chunk of, IN-USE / UNAVAILABLE memory-space
A note has been made
that WORRIES about getting rid/or, losing
MISSION CRITICAL STUFF from a PC
by amending the content of the PREFETCH FOLDER
UP FRONT ? IT IS ESSENTIAL... that you leave the folder
IN IT'S PLACE
The CONTENT
is entirely PAST OR, CURRENT
BUT
remain ONLY 'temporary references'
where IF,
you do
the same thing DAY AFTER DAY
those files will be repeated and stored
DAY AFTER DAY TOO [afresh ?] [duplication ?]
Every time, you begin another task
ESPECIALLY a NEW ONE
your PC will trawl through all of this OLD DATA
to see if it can learn
HOW, WHAT , WHEN, WHY & WHEREFORE
It is like having OLD MAGAZINES in an attic
Got lots of good-stuff in them
MIGHT just need it one day
Then, one day.... the attic is almost full and you need an item
but have to search through the whole attic and
it cannot be found ?
The PC simply chugs around looking, for stuff you/ it, requires
It gets laggy.... Isn't up to holding say, a large folder open
whilst you have several web sites in the tabs
or, a fifth browser window also onscreen minimised
So, like your ATTIC, the prefetch folder
would really enjoy a springclean [say, once a month ?]
to HELP keep it LEAN and UNBURDENED
¬v
Empty-Shelves in a Library,
permits additional space for, NEW BOOKS ?????
I assure you, that if you SELECT ALL,
on the content, of, your prefetch folder
and DELETE only the contents
Your PC.... will boot WINDOWS 'normally'
and WILL...start your applications more quickly also
All the Prefetch Folder is ? is a DIARY of old stuff
Programs [and WINDOWS] they know HOW TO WORK when initialised [exe'd]
They dont need the archives you have in PREFETCH
>reminder<
TEMPORARY SETUP FILES /
list of queries /
and WHERE YOU WENT NEXT/
Games scores etc etc etc
Of course, by deleting SYSTEM FILES you will find yourself in trouble
My 'word' to you is that I do this several times a week
I have, two very large drives in my PC
they are in RAID configuration
which means, that my drives behave
as if they are a SINGLE DRIVE from the start of one
contguously through to the end of the second
Defragmenting lots of stuff [in my attic] could, take many days ??????????
The only reservation I HAVE [?]
in telling you all this ?
is, that I, am not sat in front of your monitor
and typing at your keyboard
iow: where I have been down this road
SO-OFTEN that I travel with confidence
YOU may have to be very vigilant
that YOU select
only those Folders /Buttons/Files
that are the contents of A SPECIFIC FOLDER
'accidents' / 'inattention' can really tick you off ????
CLEAN-UP programs can 'cost YOU money'
But with a little practice, ie:
in, creating/handling/modifying and moving folders
is all that you really need to be able to achieve
so that you can keep your PC 'running lean'
' IF IN DOUBT STOP AND ASK '
Doing DISK CLEANUP
after DELETING contents of PREFETCH folder
after DELETING Internet Explorer Cookies/Temp files
and THEN a defragmentation
will have your PC believing it has had
a week at a Health Club
dave
