Delete files in windows\prefetch

[brds16]

I am trying to reverse the consequences of a moment of stupidity in which i installed a rogue "free" adware program. I have since removed the software in add/remove but a search of the disk indicates that there are still three traces of this in c:\Windows\prefetch. all three show .exe extensions one has 43kb and two of them have 10kb. Although they look benign, I'd like to wipe them out. is it safe to do so by deleting them from the prefetch folder in windows? thanks

[Gouki]

Yes. Its safe to delete all the files in the windows\prefetch folder.

[KJxp]

I agree. There should only be .pf files in there, so anything else can be deleted.

[ChunkDog]

You can also use the command "sfc /prefetch" , witch is supposed to delete everything in your prefetch folder, but knowing microsoft, I'm sure it's not 100%

[KJxp]

@ChunkDog Know what "sfc /prefetch" did on my computer? Added another one: SFC.EXE-35015568.pf !! (I've got XP Home which probably works differently.)

[member11]

yes, it is safe to delete everything in this folder.

in fact, i do that in the end of every month. My computer runs smoothly because there is no old prefetched file there

[Tarun]

majorgeeks.com for Prefetch. There's a great util there.

[Takeshi]

@ChunkDog Know what "sfc /prefetch" did on my computer? Added another one: SFC.EXE-35015568.pf !!    (I've got XP Home which probably works differently.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's because you have enabled boot and prog prefetch in the registry (or perhaps it's the default).

If you only enable boot prefetch it won't store any prog prefetch (EnablePrefetcher=2). That's the best option.

[sixpack]

majorgeeks.com for Prefetch.  There's a great util there.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2495

[InTheWayBoy]

That's the program I use as well...easy and never really messes up.