Re: Can't turn off "prefetch"?

***** charles wrote:
Hi all,

I have done the following:

1. edited the registry and made prefetch = 0
2. deleted the prefetch directory under Windows

yet when I go to SystemInfo and go to startup programs
it says that all these programs/files are loading at startup
just like prefetch was still active. The locations of the
files are listed as "startup" and the users are listed as
".DEFAULT" and "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM".

I have done a hard drive search for prefetch and find
nothing. In the run locations in the registry, there is
nothing. How do I get back to a "normal" boot?


Prefetch does not do what you think it does. In order to control startup programs, first look in each program's preferences. If the program doesn't allow you to set the option not to start with Windows, then use the System Configuration Utility.

What Prefetch does:

The files in the Prefetch folder are data files related to enhancing the speed at which applications start. Windows XP Professional monitors the files that are used when the computer starts and when you start applications. By monitoring these files, Windows XP Professional can prefetch them. Prefetching data is the process whereby data that is expected to be requested is read ahead into the cache. Prefetching boot files and applications decreases the time needed to start Windows XP Professional and start applications.

Running the System Configuration Utility:

Start>Run>msconfig [enter]

This brings up the System Configuration Utility. Look on the Startup tab and find the probable culprit. Uncheck the box next to its name, Apply and OK out. You don't need to restart immediately, but the next time you do you'll get a dialog saying you've used the Utility. Just tick the box that says in effect, "don't bother me about this again".

Important - Do not use the System Configuration Utility to stop processes. Instead, use Start>Run>services.msc [enter]

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
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