What will happen if I delete files from my prefetch folder?
80291
Prefetch folder maintenance\nJason Johnson\n10.12.2004\nRating: -4.00- (out of 5) Hall of fame tip of the month winner\n\n\nThis tip was submitted to the SearchWin2000.com tip exchange by member Jason Johnson. Please let other users know how useful it is by rating it below.\n\nWindows XP caches frequent applications, services, and files in a folder called "prefetch" to speed the launching of these items. A problem with this is that XP isn't too smart about what it caches -- which includes one-time use setup files and Windows updates, as well as multiple copies of the same applications. This can lead to prefetch bloat and slower boot times.\n\nHowever you can easily clean it. Choose Start, Run and then type prefetch. The prefetch folder will open and you can safely delete many of these unnecessary shortcuts such as updates, patches, temp files, etc. Afterwards, XP should start quicker (you may want to do a defrag or defrag -b to fully realize the benefits.
484156
Yes. It will delete everything. So make sure you take a back up of your files. If you have a partition with 2 drives then i think it wont!
1144170
Here is a great clean-up utility that deletes temp files and items that may not be needed.  Be careful with the setting as it is very good at what it does. \n\nWindows Clean-up
285582
Clear your cache on your pc...\ntools > options> delete files and temp files.
1172314
If the file in in your computer ie. My Documents, it will delete, if you saved it on a flash drive or similar device make sure that is connected!!
452499
try going under start, then search and searching by file name and then deleting everything that is associated with it. just make sure it's not a program that you need.
709161
It's very unlikely that it will still exist. When you delete a file it frees up the disk space for other files to be written, so it's highly likely that the file has been partly or completely overwritten (unless you have done very little work on the computer since and have never defragmented the hard disk).\n\nPC Inspector is one of the many programs you could use to see what, if anything, is recoverable: http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/download.htm\n\nNote that System Restore (even if there is a date there before you deleted the files) will NOT recover data files, only system files, which will be of no use to you.
45929
You'll have to give more information.  But, generally files cannot be deleted because they are in use.  One thing you can try it to reboot into "safe mode" (I assume you are using windows) and then try and delete the files.  \n\nIn safe mode, nothing really loads so it keeps the files clean and deletable...
734411
BE VERY CAREFUL, although the files may be corrupt, they may also be a virus, trojan, or other harmful active code. Delete them
195895
If you are just running straight windows, then when you clear out your recylce bin, the files (or rather the pointers to the files) are actually taken out of the file index and that disk space is marked as free.  So while you're delete is in process, it can make your pc seem a bit slower but after it completes, you should be fine.  It's just the extra disk accesses and whatever CPU overhead associated with managing the file index that is slowing you down.  It's temporary.  Just a note, if you have not done so in a long time and you have deleted a bunch of data, (Emptied your recycle bin) you may want to consider de-fragging your hard drive.  Check the Windows help section for details.  It's easy and safe to do.
449809
try this... try deletingall unnecessary files then empty your trash files... click tools>delete cookies>delete files...
684362
yes!! whichever site u visit get's stored in the temporary folder.Even when you tell Internet Explorer to delete your History, these pesky entries still remain - but Tracks Eraser Pro will get rid of them in a blink. Another common irritation it fixes is the index.dat bloat. These files (often hidden by Windows) reside in Cookies, History and Internet Explorer’s cache folders. This presents two problems: they can grow quite large and as they increase in size, they tend to be bogged down with unneeded data - making them less efficient. Secondly, snoops can recover the index.dat file and see details such as your History, even though the items don’t show up in the History folder. With a simple click, you will now be able to delete the index.dat files and protect your privacy. If you need more proof of this threat.If u want a powerful tool that can delete all ur history,then i recommend track's eraser.u can download it from-\nhttp://www.softwarepatch.com/software/trackerase.html
670180
these files r downloaded automatically wen u browse thru the net. delete them now. n use ur virus scanner r firewall to remove the source for those files....so tat u wont get any problem in the future...
1168332
^^ Yup.. you can also delete anything in Tempory Internet Files , but you will have the same problems as above.  Try looking for files of previously removed programs, and delete them. It also helps to defragment your hard drive.
1028035
A good free program to use to delete unused and useless files that are left over from uninstalled software is a program called ccleaner and it can be downloaded here. http://www.ccleaner.com/\n\nBefore you do any cleaning even with the built in cleaner in windows create a restore point so if anything nasty happens it will be easy to undo.
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all of these are good ideals ----HOWEVER try this first...\n\nit is called PREFETCH----also ADD RAM\n\nWindows XP's Prefetch folder stores information about each program you launch; then, on subsequent restarts, XP uses the information in the folder to preload parts of those programs at boot time. Clean out the Prefetch folder periodically to keep boot times from dragging.\n\nOne of Microsoft's big selling points for Windows XP was that it loads applications much faster than its predecessors. To accomplish this feat, Windows XP uses what is called the "Prefetch technique," in which the operating system gathers information about each program that you launch and stores that information in the &#92;Windows&#92;Prefetch folder. Then on subsequent restarts, Windows XP uses the information in the Prefetch folder to essentially preload parts of those programs at boot time. Thus, when you launch your application, it appears to load really fast.\n\nHowever, the Prefetch folder can accumulate too much information over time. This makes the operating system so busy loading bits and pieces of lots of applications into memory that it ends up slowing down the boot process. Fortunately, you can clean out the Prefetch folder at any time. Follow these four steps:\n\n1.       Access the Run dialog box by pressing [Windows]R. \n\n2.       Type Prefetch in the Open text box and click OK. \n\n3.       Press [Ctrl]A to select all the files. \n\n4.       Press [Delete]. \n\nAs you use your system, Windows XP will rebuild the contents of the Prefetch folder.\n\nHope this helps - might be some what of a solution....A+, MCSA, CCNA, Security +, Net + (the reason i know this answer)
512148
go to internet explorer properties and click delete files.\nit would do