Faster WinXP Booting – Remove prefetch properly
Windows XP may boot faster but it also may decrease its performance in certain system. Therefore use it only if it suits you. Btw, this is the proper method to remove these prefetch generated by winxp when you run any software.
1. Open notepad.exe, type “del c:\windows\prefetch\tosboot-*.* /q” and save as “ntosboot.bat” in C:
2. From the Start menu, select “Run” & type “gpedit.msc”.
3. Double click “Windows Settings” under “Computer Configuration” and double click again on “Shutdown” in the right window.
4. In the new window, click “add”, “Browse”, locate your “ntosboot.bat” file & click “Open”.
5. Click “OK”, “Apply” & “OK” once again to exit.
6. Reboot your computer.
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These instructions contain an error that will prevent it from working. In any event this is hardley the proper way to “remove prefetch”. A simple registry setting will serve the same purpose. No, I will not tell you what it is. It will impair performance.
Prefetchng in all forms requires that the Task Scheduler service be enabled and set to Automatic. Disabling it will cripple (but not disable) prefetch. This will impair both boot and application launch times.
Best advice regarding prefetch is to leave it alone. If disabling prefetch improves performance in any way this is a clear indication that your system has problems. Solve the problem, don’t cover it up.
Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA