Hey out there in computer land… Do you want to speed up your boot times of Windows XP or Wndows Server 2003?
Of course you do. It’s actually really, really easy! Windows has decided for you that it will load the majority of your executables at boot into your system memory so applications will appear to start faster. But as we all know having all these processes running slows down your system and eats your memory faster than Pac-Man going after his pellets.
Navigate to %systemroot%\prefetch or for the newbie c:\windows\prefetch and delete everything in there. If you want to be on the safe side you can rename the prefetch folder something like prefetch_old.
Now give your machine a reboot and marvel at the time you have shaved off your boot time.
I actually wrote this for my first post over at www.techPersona.com. Check it out!
Edit – The post is here in all its InterWeb Glory!
_TheSpeedyAdmin_
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Cleaning the Prefetch folder is a Myth and will REDUCE performance. Unused prefetch files do nothing but take up a small amount of disk space and are automatically cleaned at 128 entries down to the 32 most used app’s prefetch files by Windows. Cleaning the folder manually will cripple all applications and windows load times.
XP Myths
Color me shocked Thanks Andrew. I have been doing this for several years as well as many other admins I have met.
I will look into this a bit further and re-post when im done.
Thanks for the comment!
BAD IDEA.
Looks like the Admin has fallen for a myth.
This myth that deletion of prefetch files is beneficial is based on a complete misunderstanding of how prefetch actually works. Prefetch does not preload applications or any portion of them at bootup. Application prefetch files are not even referenced until the application is launched. At this time they are used to optimize the launch time of the application. Prefetch files NEVER cause an application to be loaded. In any event the prefetch folder is self cleaning after 128 entries. All of this has been extensively tested.
Manual deletion of prefetch files will deprive Windows of a valuable resource and has no benefits. If this actually improves boot time this is a clear indication that the system has problems. The proper procedure would be to diagnose and correct the problem.
Check this link to see how prefetch really works:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/1285/xp-registry-hack-to-disable-or-modify-prefetch/
References:
http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/XPMyths.html
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000024.html
http://blogs.msdn.com/ryanmy/archive/2005/05/25/421882.aspx
Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA
CompTIA A+, Network+
Thanks Larry! You can’t always believe what you read!