A Batch File for Prefetch Optimisation

Prefetch Optimisation

Prefetch is designed to speed up performance in two ways. First, XP recognises files that it most commomly requires at startup and secondly it remembers the

files needed to run programs that are used most frequently. Prefetch use this information in two ways. It creates a temporary file for each program that

contains a list of all resources to run it, these are then loaded in advance so the program starts faster. In addition Prefetch instructs Disk Defragmenter to

change where this software is stored on disk so that frequently accessed programs are closer together.They can be accessed quicker and so improve system

performance. These files are located in C:\WINDOWS\PREFETCH with the extension .pf.

However, just like the TEMP folder and cached temporary Internet files need clearing out regularly, so does the Prefetch folder which

gets clogged up with programs you no longer use and so slows down your PC. The best way to clear these files out is to delete the entire contents

(don't worry, any benifcial files will be regenerated on restart) or you could just delete those tools/programs you no longer use from

the Prefetch folder.

An even better method is to create a Batch file to automatically empty the Prefetch folder with one click from the desktop, just follow these easy steps:

1.   Open Windows Explorer, select Tools> Folder Options> View> and tick the Hide extensions for known file types

2.   While still under the View tab click Folder views> Apply to All Folders> OK

3.   Right click on the Desktop select New> Text Document and open New Text Document on the desktop

4.   Type del X:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\*.*/q into the text file   Replace the X with the letter of the drive on which you have windows installed on.

5.   Click File> Save as and save the file to your desktop as CLEAR_PREFETCH.BAT

Now when you want to empty the Prefetch folder (monthly ?)just double click your batch file. (if a Command Window opens asking for confirmation, type Y ).

To take this one step further, you can automate this batch file so that the Prefetch folder gets emptied monthly or on every startup if you wish. To do this, a

few more steps.

6.   Click Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Scheduled Tasks

7.   Click Add Scheduled Task

8.   In the wizard click Next> Browse> and find your CLEAR_FETCH.BAT on the desktop

9.   Choose wether to perform this task either Monthly or When my computer starts

10.   Click Next> enter a time Click Nex> Next> Finish, then restart your PC.

It is also important to remember that many of the Prefetch options depend on Windows built in scheduling functionality. To make sure that Prefetch is going to

work at the scheduled times do this:

1.   Click Start> Control Panel> Administrative Tools and select Services

2.   In the right hand pane check that these two services are STARTED in the Status Column:   COM+Event System and Task Scheduler.

3.   If either has not started, select each service by clicking on it, then click Restart the Service.

4.   Right click on the Service Name and select Properties, click the General tab

5.   Set the Startup type drop-down menu to Automatic.

Cheers, hope this is helpful,

ticker