Comments for What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?

Comment from julia gulenc on 2011-11-17

2011-11-17T14:51:52Z

cleaning the prefetch folder on occasion,especially after a malware clean up is certainly useful and helpful.

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A comment on: What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?

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Comment from Nate on 2010-09-27

2010-09-27T12:36:34Z

"Ignore the prefetch"? Not cool. There are quite a few fixes in my life that have come from deleting the contents of the prefetch folder (except do NOT delete layout.ini). Usually, the symptoms were things like "Word takes 30 seconds to load". This was probably because a default place where files were saved (like a user's network drive) may have changed locations. The system is still trying to preload the old Y drive or whatever and times out over those 30 seconds. Clearing the prefetch (again, except layout.ini) tells the computer to please go check the places to preload again. The next time you open up Word, it takes 15 seonds, and every time after is immediate. Again, the prefetch can also store bad or outdated items, so clearing it every now and again can speed up your PC.

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A comment on: What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?

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Comment from Lisa on 2010-02-08

2010-02-09T00:07:19Z

I get the whole "ignore the prefetch folder" but I still must ask: I just deleted a malvare file called Your PC Protector from the Program Files and noted there was also an executable file in the Prefetch Folder - should I still ignore the prefetch folder or should I delete the exe file from the folder? *I did a system reboot, disk cleanup, rescan, etc. and the file is still in the prefetch folder. Thank you in advance for your advice.

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A comment on: What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Jan Smith on 2009-09-02

2009-09-02T17:31:47Z

One of my students installed software and uninstalled and reinstalled (software not working because older version was installed after newer version, etc.)
Anyway, I'll be going to the dealership, today, so your answer probably won't get to me, but what about deleting JUST the files in the Prefetch folder that apply to this software?

Thanks and glad I found this site.
Jan

I'm not sure what purpose that would serve. Just ignore the prefetch folder.

03-Sep-2009

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A comment on: What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Michael Kelley on 2009-05-26

2009-05-27T03:31:00Z

I suddenly was having trouble using wordperfect 11 in that the first time I opened a file, it took 10-20 seconds to open. After that it worked fine, but if I closed wordperfect, the same thing happened everytime. It appeared wordperfect was going "someplace" and looking for "something." I cleaned out the prefetch folder and the problem resolved.

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A comment on: What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from albert on 2008-10-29

2008-10-30T06:44:15Z

might faulty data in the prefetch folder be a possible cause when programs keep crashing when you are starting them?

Not typically, no. But it's certainly safe enough to delete the contents of prefetch to find out.

- Leo
30-Oct-2008

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A comment on: What is the prefetch folder, and why are there copies of system files there?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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