As users of recent versions of Windows are probably aware, there are now two separate Temp folders in Windows: one in the main Windows program file, and another in your own username folder. Both can accumulate temporary files that will keep on accumulating unless you periodically dump them. A lot of files in these folders will tend to contribute to the slowing down of your machine's performance, and in addition, it's a popular destination for malware to hide.
Dumping them periodically is a good thing.
The Windows Prefetch, which for a while was called Superfetch, is a file which preloads certain frequently used files in order to make Windows more quickly responsive to commands. The contents of this folder are automatically recreated
from backup during reboots and starts, so the basic list will not be lost if you choose to periodically dump it. And you should, because it can accumulate a lot of files that you might use only a few times, or only for a few days, and not need again. Those, like the junk files that pile up in the Temp folders, will tend to keep on piling up and contributing to the slowing of your machine's performance. They don't teach this stuff in Newbie School, but it's important if you want to keep your machine running at its best.
Ray... I started looking for my Windows Prefetch files and came across this (whatever)...http://www.edbott.com/weblog/2005/04/tip-of-the-day-dont-clean-out-the-prefetch-folder/
ReplyDeleteWhat's he talking about?
@ Uncle Ron ( and everyone!)
ReplyDeleteI was wrong about the Prefetch - I was accepting bad advice and I shouldn't have passed it on. Your question got me looking for some official word from Microsoft, and here's that word.
I am now going to throw out that shortcut to the Prefetch folder, and stop messing with it,
and I advise everyone else to do the same. Sorry I screwed up, Folks.