Hello,
Many problems or delays in Windows startup and
implementation of programs in Windows XP, VISTA, W7
not necessarily come from the antivirus
and other tools, but the malfunction
Windows prefetch subsystem.
The default configuration is set to optimize starting and charging
programs.
Windows saves information to expedite the start
and system programs, in files. pf normally in folder
[b]C:\windows\prefetch[/b]
This information is sometimes outdated or something
is not right and then come the problems.
For any delay or malfunction of the system, you must [b]delete all
the contents of the folder C:\windows\prefetch[/b]
This deletion is completely safe.
Windows remake immediately that information as
is started or running programs.
This deletion may be miraculous.
Sounds like you need a good program called ccleaner, when the box is ticked under advanced it will clean out old prefetch data.
Yes, I know, but may be partially true.
You have to delete all the content, not just the old one.
No need to delet all of the prefetch data, once you’ve finished browsing for the day run ccleaner and anything that has reached the expiry limit will then be deleted.
Well, something is wrong, because Windows could also see
the expiry limit and yet insists on
use that information delays and
problems. Or is it a different other hidden problem
other than the expiration …
In any case, if with CCLEANER not fix the problem
I encourage you to delete the entire contents of the folder.
Saves me typing
Each time you turn on your computer, Windows keeps track of the way your computer starts and which programs you commonly open. Windows saves this information as a number of small files in the prefetch folder. The next time you turn on your computer, Windows refers to these files to help speed the start process.
The prefetch folder is a subfolder of the Windows system folder. The prefetch folder is self-maintaining, and there’s no need to delete it or empty its contents. If you empty the folder, Windows and your programs will take longer to open the next time you turn on your computer.
Dangerous myths: Deleting the informaation in Prefetch folder
There are often claims that deleting the Prefetch folder actually results in less boot-up time and more free memory. The reasons for this vary—for example, some experts claim that Windows loads Prefetch information for all of the programs you’ve ever started on your computer into memory automatically, filling your RAM with unused data (this is not true.) These experts recommend deleting the contents of “Windows\Prefetch” on a regular basis, to keep your memory free from unused data. Ouch! Two reasons:
- If you don’t run a program, Windows does not access the Prefetch information.
- Windows maintains a maximum of 128 entries in the Prefetch folder. It cleans itself automatically.
So, if you actually delete the Prefetch folder, here’s what you should really expect to happen: Windows and applications will need noticeably more time to start, as the Prefetch data needs to be collected again. The entire performance of your system will slow down.
If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the “Mark as Answer” or If you find it helpful , Mark it as helpful by clicking on “Helpful” button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.
I have no reason to delet the folder as i have no problems with it and i have never heard of any issues regarding avast and prefetch either.
SHARKY7SHARKY when you use someone elses post you should quote the author but thank you for posting it as i could not be bothered with typing and explaining all that either 
10/4 How’s this
Posted by: enriquemm
Hello, SHARKY say’s Hi
Many problems or delays in Windows startup and
implementation of programs in Windows XP, VISTA, W7not necessarily come from the antivirus
and other tools, but the malfunction
Windows prefetch subsystem.
Each time you turn on your computer, Windows keeps track of the way your computer starts and which programs you commonly open. Windows saves this information as a number of small files in the prefetch folder. The next time you turn on your computer, Windows refers to these files to help speed the start process.
I think the forum readers can clearly see who it’s directed to.
Thought I would post because people will be deleting Prefetch everyday.
Nothing wrong in cleaning out a few times a year, but not really necessary.
I do not try to explain how it should work windows.
No one knows why windows gets stuck sometimes with
the prefech information.
This is not to save memory and speed up anything.
You can actually configure prefecth not to work
to debug.
My advice, my experience am personally tired of
fix PC problems is:
- Delete the entire contents of the folder
- Reboot the system
- The first time seems to go even faster, even recreating
new prefetch information.
.- The second time you reboot the system and we
prefetch alleged speed and none of the problems
would, if they were due to prefetch.
Windows does not work ever as it says, just how it works.
Greetings.
I see what you meant by Author, it’s a name called Microsoft or something.
It is inadvisable to empty the prefetch folder on windows Vista and above as it can cause unpredictable results
It does not slow the boot time by more than a nano second or so, in fact I doubt you would even notice a difference
Do not delete the ‘layout.ini’ file
I’d leave the ‘ReadyBoot’ as well
I don’t have bad intentions with this comment, so please don’t misunderstand me.
So, now someone simply copy+paste some old phrases from some site here in a post, which BTW are not correct and irrelevant not only for Avast users but for any Windows user, and we start “answering” to a non-question?
IMNSHO, the only thing worth of posting in this topic is that the OP is simply and completely wrong, just for the record for less experienced users that might think of trying such nonsense.
Other than that, I just hope this topic will die quickly.
We’re talking about a PC that has problems, and we think
may be a antivirus or another program installed incorrectly.
When no other idea, delete prefech is an alternative.
I tried it in XP, Vista SP1 and Windows 7.
And it has corrected problems that were therefore prefetch.
Indeed, the content to delete files are: .pf and .db
No subfolders as ReadyBoot.
Let everyone do what they want.
Continue with the problem or see if the problem was prefetch.
I’ve never had unpredictable results.
For me, the deletion is usually harmless.
The information is reconstructed immediately
as they are running for the first time
programs.
If someone fears a risk, start
windows in safe mode command line,
, as administrator, and run the
removal with the command of MSDOS.
AVAST has its own file. Pf
Attention folder no mistake .!!!
Is [b]c: \ windows \ prefetch [/b]
Delete only files.
In all cases we are talking about a PC
with severe traffic jams, slow
startup, or erratic behavior of programs
or services. Especially if it happens after Restore
the system.
It is my experience. I hope to serve you.
Although not always the problem is prefecht.
Tip of the day: Don’t clean out the Prefetch folder
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/2005/04/tip-of-the-day-dont-clean-out-the-prefetch-folder
You can clean it out if you wish, it just takes a few boots to repopulate it.
Personally I have the prefetch set to 2 ‘prefetch only boot files,’ not 1 ‘prefetch application launch files,’ not 3 ‘prefetch everything’ and I don’t really notice any boot-time issues.
Please note: this tip does not apply to my conversation:
"Tip of the day: Do not clean out the Prefetch folder
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/2005/04/tip-of-the-day-dont-clean-out-the-prefetch-folder "
It has nothing to do with what I’m saying.
I’m not saying you have to delete prefetch regularly to get better speed or performance, which also is not true, I’m talking about a PC that has problems that may be due to prefetch corruption.
Is this prefetch corruption anything to do with Avast?