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Author Topic: Prefetch  (Read 4514 times)

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nortin

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    Prefetch
    « on: July 12, 2009, 03:14:56 PM »
    Upon reading in the Computer Hope site:  If you have Windows XP try deleting all files in the prefetch directory. These are prefetch files and can lower system resources if loading programs no longer being used. See our prefetch definition for additional information about prefetch.

    Does this mean I can delete ALL items in the Prefetch folder without worrying about consequences?

    nortin

    Rob Pomeroy



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    Re: Prefetch
    « Reply #1 on: July 13, 2009, 01:24:36 PM »
    Yes you can, although you may find that some programs start up a little slower.  For the most part, you don't need to delete them.
    Only able to visit the forums sporadically, sorry.

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    squall_01



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      Re: Prefetch
      « Reply #2 on: July 14, 2009, 05:53:27 AM »
      Unless the cpu supports it but I see this as a huge advantage to any system.
      Windows 7 RC Tester.  Working on it.  Your monitor says etchasketch on the side!

      If I fall who is there to pick me up now.  I stand alone but I stand as the gaurdian for whom I wish to protect.  The sound of my blade utters my name as you fall.  For I shall not move.  For those that forsake the very people are wosres

      Carbon Dudeoxide

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      Re: Prefetch
      « Reply #3 on: July 14, 2009, 06:06:16 AM »
      Unless the cpu supports it but I see this as a huge advantage to any system.

      What? Do you even know what the Prefetch is?

      squall_01



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        Re: Prefetch
        « Reply #4 on: July 14, 2009, 06:10:26 AM »
        it allows the system to grab more threads so it can boot faster.
        Windows 7 RC Tester.  Working on it.  Your monitor says etchasketch on the side!

        If I fall who is there to pick me up now.  I stand alone but I stand as the gaurdian for whom I wish to protect.  The sound of my blade utters my name as you fall.  For I shall not move.  For those that forsake the very people are wosres

        BC_Programmer


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        Re: Prefetch
        « Reply #5 on: July 14, 2009, 06:13:09 AM »
        no.
        I was trying to dereference Null Pointers before it was cool.

        squall_01



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          Re: Prefetch
          « Reply #6 on: July 14, 2009, 06:16:19 AM »
          The Prefetcher is a component of versions of Microsoft Windows starting with Windows XP.[1] It is a component of the Memory manager that speeds up the Windows boot process, and shortens the amount of time it takes to start up programs

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefetcher
          Windows 7 RC Tester.  Working on it.  Your monitor says etchasketch on the side!

          If I fall who is there to pick me up now.  I stand alone but I stand as the gaurdian for whom I wish to protect.  The sound of my blade utters my name as you fall.  For I shall not move.  For those that forsake the very people are wosres

          Carbon Dudeoxide

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          Re: Prefetch
          « Reply #7 on: July 14, 2009, 06:19:47 AM »
          it allows the system to grab more threads so it can boot faster.

          Where does it say that on the page you linked to?

          squall_01



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            Re: Prefetch
            « Reply #8 on: July 14, 2009, 06:21:59 AM »
            I was refering to the cpu but I was getting the two twisted with each other.  Its been a while since I done this stuff.  Since I had covered it an yet to apply it at all.
            Windows 7 RC Tester.  Working on it.  Your monitor says etchasketch on the side!

            If I fall who is there to pick me up now.  I stand alone but I stand as the gaurdian for whom I wish to protect.  The sound of my blade utters my name as you fall.  For I shall not move.  For those that forsake the very people are wosres

            Carbon Dudeoxide

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            Re: Prefetch
            « Reply #9 on: July 14, 2009, 06:24:48 AM »
            The CPU has nothing to do with Windows Prefetch.

            Get up to speed before posting raising your post count.


            Just go away Squall.....

            squall_01



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              Re: Prefetch
              « Reply #10 on: July 14, 2009, 06:27:48 AM »
              Your demoteing yourself here.  Thats never a good thing with me.  Thats what I have to say on this matter.  Clearly from the topic I assume this is what he may have wanted to know.
              Windows 7 RC Tester.  Working on it.  Your monitor says etchasketch on the side!

              If I fall who is there to pick me up now.  I stand alone but I stand as the gaurdian for whom I wish to protect.  The sound of my blade utters my name as you fall.  For I shall not move.  For those that forsake the very people are wosres

              Rob Pomeroy



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              Re: Prefetch
              « Reply #11 on: July 14, 2009, 09:29:45 AM »
              For sure careful consideration is better than gung-ho posting.

              "Gung-ho"?  See here: http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Gung-ho
              Only able to visit the forums sporadically, sorry.

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              Carbon Dudeoxide

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              Re: Prefetch
              « Reply #12 on: July 14, 2009, 09:33:54 AM »
              Clearly from the topic I assume this is what he may have wanted to know.

              I'm sure the OP doesn't want to know what Prefetch isn't. LOL

              squall_01



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                Re: Prefetch
                « Reply #13 on: July 14, 2009, 01:53:19 PM »
                thats what I had thought, sorry I wasnt understanding the question.
                Windows 7 RC Tester.  Working on it.  Your monitor says etchasketch on the side!

                If I fall who is there to pick me up now.  I stand alone but I stand as the gaurdian for whom I wish to protect.  The sound of my blade utters my name as you fall.  For I shall not move.  For those that forsake the very people are wosres

                nortin

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                  Re: Prefetch
                  « Reply #14 on: July 14, 2009, 05:56:12 PM »
                  OK guys - did I miss something here?  Do I leave them alone - delete those that I recognize as not using any more - or delete the whole shebang?

                  nortin

                  squall_01



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                    Re: Prefetch
                    « Reply #15 on: July 14, 2009, 06:19:56 PM »
                    thats impossible for you to do since there made by other users.  That also only a selected few have that capability,  you can take note of what I said but it can be overlooked.
                    Windows 7 RC Tester.  Working on it.  Your monitor says etchasketch on the side!

                    If I fall who is there to pick me up now.  I stand alone but I stand as the gaurdian for whom I wish to protect.  The sound of my blade utters my name as you fall.  For I shall not move.  For those that forsake the very people are wosres

                    Aegis



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                    Re: Prefetch
                    « Reply #16 on: July 14, 2009, 06:32:21 PM »
                    HERE is an interesting thread from another forum.  If you are going to change or remove the prefetch files, reading this thread should help you understand some of the "do's" and "don'ts."

                    I've not tried any of this, myself.  Please proceed with caution.


                    "For you, a thousand times over." - "The Kite Runner"

                    BC_Programmer


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                    Re: Prefetch
                    « Reply #17 on: July 14, 2009, 06:37:58 PM »
                    there is no reason to remove prefetch files... it's a myth perpetuated by those who don't understand it; If it was faster to NOT use prefetch files, would MS simply not have implemented it?

                    The other argument is that when you have too many prefetch files it can slow down application startup. This is also untrue, since the files are indexed by executable name- Windows doesn't look through every single file to load up the proper prefetch, it recreates the same prefetch filename and tries to open it. Either it exists or it doesn't; If it does, it opens it and examines the prefetch data (generally telling Windows which parts of the executable to load up first, since they get accessed more.) If it doesn't exist, windows creates it, and then profiles the application startup. *THIS* is much slower then even the mythical gain in performance from deleting the prefetch files.
                    I was trying to dereference Null Pointers before it was cool.

                    evilfantasy

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                    Re: Prefetch
                    « Reply #18 on: July 14, 2009, 07:09:29 PM »
                    A good read. One more time: do not clean out your Prefetch folder!

                    CCleaner has an option to clean old Prefetch files...