Can I safely remove files in the prefetch folder?

A folder in windows C:\WINDOWS\prefetch, the files in there keep trying to access the internet and my norton software recommends I block them. They keep popping up every minute or so. Can I safely remove these files or the entire folder?

 

Hello lturknett,

The short answer to can you delete these files is yes http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm Scroll down to Prefetch, what it is and how to manage.

But as the article points out, this technique speeds up software executes.

I think your problem with Norton isn't because these programs are in the prefetch, but because these programs want access, regardless of whether they are in the prefetch folder or not. But see after you delete, either some - those that have not been used for long time, or all of them.

Regards - Charles

 

I agree. I have long had a line in my tempzap.bat file to do just that and have never noticed any untoward effects.

Code:

echo y | del c:\windows\prefetch\*.* 

After all, the prefetch folder is initially empty when the system is installed and nobody seems to miss it.

If you don't do it too often, you won't lose the dubious speed increase promised by XP when they designed this part of the beast. Frankly, I turned off file indexing long ago and haven't missed it either.

 

This is how I dealt with it. I deleted all the files within the Prefetch Folder, then emptied the Recycle Bin. Go to Start\Run\regedit\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\MemoryManagement\PrefetchParameters. Right click on EnablePrefetcher and from the menu choose Modify. Change the Call for Attributes from (3) to (2) click OK. Exit the registry and restart your computer.

 

I keep forgetting that you can deal with it that way through Services. I guess I just love tinkering with the registry.

 

Hi Christer,

Same here, and I notice mine are all .exe entries and from August only. Is that true on yours as well?

Regards - Charles

 

Looked at a Pro system today and has mostly .exe's w/ a few more file extension types - all for August.

So for FWIW, this is not a huge file hog - 4.4MB on my system.

Christer, are you running NIS or NFP and if so are you getting notifications from Norton about the prefetch folder as lturknett is?

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Guys...

Turned off my Indexing right after installing fresh clean install of WinXP SP1 (prior to my SP2 installation) and after my SP2 install my Prefetch folder is only 3.4MB. They are all *.exe's except for 7 *.tmp.

 

Hi Kent,

Ok, you're another one that has a prefetch that looks about the same as Christer's and mine, and, as far as I can tell is not a big problem.

Regards - Charles

 

I also have indexing shut off and an empty Prefetch. I also recommend emptying it to those having spyware/malware problems. Sometimes a baddie's executable resides there also, and can easily re-infect a cleaned computer.

lturknett,

To add to charlesvar's comment,

what programs/processes are trying to gain internet access that Norton warns you of? Legitimate programs that you are using? Random/odd names? Whatever they are, it will not hurt anything to delete them all.

 

Follow up on Prefetch

Wow! I didn't expect to get so much feedback. But, hey I'm not complaining. Thanks to everyone who responded. To many to list, but really, thanks everyone.

 

I forgot to mention that the PC in my first post was my work PC.

At home I'm running WinXP SP2 and only have 2.50MB (66 items) of files in Prefetch folder. I have the Indexing Service "Disabled ", have removed Indexing from Add/Remove Windows Components, and deselected Indexing on on all HDD's. Just now I emptied the Prefetch folder and after rebooting and opening some programs I now have 0.99MB (14 items). I opened Outlook and watched the Outlook.exe-xxxxx.pf file appear.

If I have all disabled why is my Prefetch filling up again?

One thing I did notice after reading a "Prefetch" article that "File Types" have the /Prefetch. For example the AVI file type has this string under "Open" => "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe" /prefetch:8 /Play "%L ". Does this /Prefetch:8 have anything to do with the "Prefetch " folder?

 

Hi Dave,

I'm not clear on what you're saying here:

Let's say that I uninstall Ad-Aware for which I have a prefetch entry, I use it quite often. Now if I uninstall it, what you seem to be saying is that it will be executed by the system - "come back" - beause it still has a prefetch entry until it gets cleared by the system, is that what you're saying? Or is Malware potentially a special case?

Regards - Charles

 

I allow Indexing Service to run on my C drive. My Prefetch looks like Christer & CharlesVar described. I even found WUpdater and wuauclt in there! (Grrr.. but that is another thread!) I noticed there was nothing in there that hadn't been used in the last month or so, and I deleted everything that hadn't been used in the last week. NO CHANGE to system performance or anything else that I can see. (I am hoping that by deleting the WU exes that they don't come back!)

lturknett I'm with Noahdfear (Dave) on how to approach your problem. What exactly in the prefetch is trying to access the internet? That's where we need to start.

Johanna

TonyT- Why do you disable Indexing and not use XP's Prefetch? Just curious.