Windows Prefetch

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Windows XP Prefetch Clean And Control 1.2.0: The other day, I couldn’t delete an application file — it was locked. I rebooted but still couldn’t delete it, even though I hadn’t run the application yet.

I wonder if this is why?

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.

The link is to a free tool that cleans and/or disables it.

Deane | September 25, 2004
See Also: Windows

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Comments

If you want to clean out your prefetch data periodically, can’t you just go in and wipe out the contents of C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch ? I’m guessing that’s what this tool does, but I can’t be certain. What file were you trying to delete? I’ve had to boot into safe mode and admin mode to remove files, did you try that?

dz | September 25, 2004 7:21 PM

I managed to delete the file eventually, so this isn’t a request for tech support. Just an observation.

Thanks anyway.

Deane | September 25, 2004 7:55 PM

I am the kind of guy who like to muck with my machine and I have put a folder in C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch by mistake. But now I can’t move the folder out of C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch to some where else. What can I do?

Edward | October 9, 2004 12:34 PM

try closing explorer and using good old command prompt to delete/move files/folders

will | October 28, 2004 6:42 AM

i have a file in my prefetch folder called flag log and when i delete it it just comes back, and it keeps creating remote threads. wtf is this?!

jmac | October 29, 2004 10:42 PM

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Thanks to all who participated.