Home | Windows-Tips | Deleting files from Prefetch Directory in Windows XP

Deleting files from Prefetch Directory in Windows XP

01 November, 2005

Font size:

WindowsXP has a new feature called Prefetch. Prefetch keeps a shortcut to recently used programs in order to speed the launching time for most frequently used applications.

The only downside to this is that windows will never clear that directory automatically and it can fill up with old and obsolete programs.

To clean Prefetch Folder periodically go to:

Star / Run / Prefetch

Press Ctrl-A to highlight all the files

Delete them

Add to: Add to your del.icio.us

del.icio.us | Digg this story

Digg |

Twitter |

Facebook |

Google

Comments (2 posted):

Larry Miller on 03 June, 2008

Deleting files in the prefetch folder as described will impair performance. Prefetch files are not shortcuts, they are files used by Windows to optimize application launch times. They are not referenced until the application is launched. Obsolete or rarely used entries will have virtually no impact on performance. In any event the folder is self cleaning after 128 entries. I have seen this occur many times. Manual deletion of these files has no benefits and will most certainly impair performance.

Ignore any and all advice to clean the prefetch folder. It is written by people who are ignorant of how prefetch really works.

Rod Gaskins on 02 October, 2009

so if deleting the entries clears the 128 entries some of which are old wouldn't it be a good idea to delete the entries so you get a fresh list of entries which include the entries you want on it instead of things like the ikowin32 hack you just spent time getting rid of? Of coarse I guess if the program never gets run it will eventually get rid of its' self.