Prefetch XP+SP2. I did something stupid and don't know how to reverse it.

[Jumbo]

Hi to forum members,

My Dell 5150 XP+SP2 has been running like a dream for several years but I
had to go and upset it and now need your help quite urgently.

I have Tweak-XP Pro v4 installed but seldom use it. However I was reading
some stuff about speeding up performance by optimising the Prefetch settings
and went and clicked the Re-Initialise the Prefetcher button.

When I rebooted the start-up items failed to load and the were no icons in
the right hand side of the Task Bar just the clock.

I used System Restore and everything is fine but the next boot returns to
the no icons situation. I have checked the start-up activity using WinPatrol
and all of the start-up items are running.

The prefetcher folder is the same in both conditions and only contains items
dated 27th October (when I clicked were I made my mistake).

Googling produces all sorts of suggestions but many conflicting ideas about
resetting or deleting the Prefetch Folder. I don't want to make things worse
and hope that a forum member might know how I can fix things so that I am
not stuck with having to run system restore before I can use my computer.

Please post suggestions or email me at this address
epitaxialATdslDOTpipexDOTcom

Jumbo who had a Senior Moment and got it all wrong.

Silver Surfer

 

[R. McCarty]

Re: Prefetch XP+SP2. I did something stupid and don't know how to reverse it.

Something beyond a simple purge of the .Pf modules must have
happened. Using any sort of Tweaking utility can cause problems
if you're not very careful.

If you've used System Restore and it only provides a single session
solution you may need to Restore to a date further back in the list.

I'd recommend that if you want real system protection you use a
imaging program to protect your XP setup & data. System Restore
is a short-term, roll back provision to undo the occasional change
that affects the system.

Without any first hand knowledge of Tweak-XP Pro I can't say
what may have actually damaged your XP.

"Jumbo" <jumbo@dreamland.net> wrote in message
news:h5CdnercKoJEgJXUnZ2dnUVZ8rmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Hi to forum members,
>
> My Dell 5150 XP+SP2 has been running like a dream for several years but I
> had to go and upset it and now need your help quite urgently.
>
> I have Tweak-XP Pro v4 installed but seldom use it. However I was reading
> some stuff about speeding up performance by optimising the Prefetch
> settings and went and clicked the Re-Initialise the Prefetcher button.
>
> When I rebooted the start-up items failed to load and the were no icons in
> the right hand side of the Task Bar just the clock.
>
> I used System Restore and everything is fine but the next boot returns to
> the no icons situation. I have checked the start-up activity using
> WinPatrol and all of the start-up items are running.
>
> The prefetcher folder is the same in both conditions and only contains
> items dated 27th October (when I clicked were I made my mistake).
>
> Googling produces all sorts of suggestions but many conflicting ideas
> about resetting or deleting the Prefetch Folder. I don't want to make
> things worse and hope that a forum member might know how I can fix things
> so that I am not stuck with having to run system restore before I can use
> my computer.
>
> Please post suggestions or email me at this address
> epitaxialATdslDOTpipexDOTcom
>
> Jumbo who had a Senior Moment and got it all wrong.
>
> Silver Surfer
>

 

[Jumbo]

Re: Prefetch XP+SP2. I did something stupid and don't know how to reverse it.


"R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:uiPiObaOJHA.3496@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Something beyond a simple purge of the .Pf modules must have
> happened. Using any sort of Tweaking utility can cause problems
> if you're not very careful.
>
> If you've used System Restore and it only provides a single session
> solution you may need to Restore to a date further back in the list.
>
> I'd recommend that if you want real system protection you use a
> imaging program to protect your XP setup & data. System Restore
> is a short-term, roll back provision to undo the occasional change
> that affects the system.
>
> Without any first hand knowledge of Tweak-XP Pro I can't say
> what may have actually damaged your XP.
>
> "Jumbo" <jumbo@dreamland.net> wrote in message
> news:h5CdnercKoJEgJXUnZ2dnUVZ8rmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
>> Hi to forum members,
>>
>> My Dell 5150 XP+SP2 has been running like a dream for several years but I
>> had to go and upset it and now need your help quite urgently.
>>
>> I have Tweak-XP Pro v4 installed but seldom use it. However I was reading
>> some stuff about speeding up performance by optimising the Prefetch
>> settings and went and clicked the Re-Initialise the Prefetcher button.
>>
>> When I rebooted the start-up items failed to load and the were no icons
>> in the right hand side of the Task Bar just the clock.
>>
>> I used System Restore and everything is fine but the next boot returns to
>> the no icons situation. I have checked the start-up activity using
>> WinPatrol and all of the start-up items are running.
>>
>> The prefetcher folder is the same in both conditions and only contains
>> items dated 27th October (when I clicked were I made my mistake).
>>
>> Googling produces all sorts of suggestions but many conflicting ideas
>> about resetting or deleting the Prefetch Folder. I don't want to make
>> things worse and hope that a forum member might know how I can fix things
>> so that I am not stuck with having to run system restore before I can use
>> my computer.
>>
>> Please post suggestions or email me at this address
>> epitaxialATdslDOTpipexDOTcom
>>
>> Jumbo who had a Senior Moment and got it all wrong.
>>
>> Silver Surfer
>>
>
>

Thank you for your kind response Mr. McCarty. Unfortunately I've used all of
the available System Restore points but to no avail.

 

[mikeyhsd]

Re: Prefetch XP+SP2. I did something stupid and don't know how to reverse it.

check the options in tweak-xp pro to see if there is a way to back out the change.
it apparently made some registry changes.

also might write the author of the program for assistance.


mikeyhsd@lamparty.net



"Jumbo" <jumbo@dreamland.net> wrote in message news:h5CdnercKoJEgJXUnZ2dnUVZ8rmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
Hi to forum members,

My Dell 5150 XP+SP2 has been running like a dream for several years but I
had to go and upset it and now need your help quite urgently.

I have Tweak-XP Pro v4 installed but seldom use it. However I was reading
some stuff about speeding up performance by optimising the Prefetch settings
and went and clicked the Re-Initialise the Prefetcher button.

When I rebooted the start-up items failed to load and the were no icons in
the right hand side of the Task Bar just the clock.

I used System Restore and everything is fine but the next boot returns to
the no icons situation. I have checked the start-up activity using WinPatrol
and all of the start-up items are running.

The prefetcher folder is the same in both conditions and only contains items
dated 27th October (when I clicked were I made my mistake).

Googling produces all sorts of suggestions but many conflicting ideas about
resetting or deleting the Prefetch Folder. I don't want to make things worse
and hope that a forum member might know how I can fix things so that I am
not stuck with having to run system restore before I can use my computer.

Please post suggestions or email me at this address
epitaxialATdslDOTpipexDOTcom

Jumbo who had a Senior Moment and got it all wrong.

Silver Surfer

 

[Master Blaster]

Re: Prefetch XP+SP2. I did something stupid and don't know how to reverse it.

Be very, very cautious of 3rd-party tweak utilities. They MAY do things
that are very bad for your system, as you just found out.

The only tweak utility you can trust is Microsoft's PowerToy, TweakUI
(XP version), see sidebar at...
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx

While you on the PowerToys page, you may want to look at the other
"toys" listed.

I like the classic "Open Command Window Here" & "Power Calculator"


--
===============
Master Blaster
Computer System Specialist
IT Technician



"mikeyhsd" <mikeyhsd@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eD2LPWcOJHA.4576@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> check the options in tweak-xp pro to see if there is a way to back out the change.
> it apparently made some registry changes.
>
> also might write the author of the program for assistance.
>
>
> mikeyhsd@lamparty.net
>
>
>
> "Jumbo" <jumbo@dreamland.net> wrote in message news:h5CdnercKoJEgJXUnZ2dnUVZ8rmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Hi to forum members,
>
> My Dell 5150 XP+SP2 has been running like a dream for several years but I
> had to go and upset it and now need your help quite urgently.
>
> I have Tweak-XP Pro v4 installed but seldom use it. However I was reading
> some stuff about speeding up performance by optimising the Prefetch settings
> and went and clicked the Re-Initialise the Prefetcher button.
>
> When I rebooted the start-up items failed to load and the were no icons in
> the right hand side of the Task Bar just the clock.
>
> I used System Restore and everything is fine but the next boot returns to
> the no icons situation. I have checked the start-up activity using WinPatrol
> and all of the start-up items are running.
>
> The prefetcher folder is the same in both conditions and only contains items
> dated 27th October (when I clicked were I made my mistake).
>
> Googling produces all sorts of suggestions but many conflicting ideas about
> resetting or deleting the Prefetch Folder. I don't want to make things worse
> and hope that a forum member might know how I can fix things so that I am
> not stuck with having to run system restore before I can use my computer.
>
> Please post suggestions or email me at this address
> epitaxialATdslDOTpipexDOTcom
>
> Jumbo who had a Senior Moment and got it all wrong.
>
> Silver Surfer

 

[Jeff]

Re: Prefetch XP+SP2. I did something stupid and don't know how to reverse it.

You may want to try right click on taskbar and hit customize button, then
reset to default button.

"Jumbo" <jumbo@dreamland.net> wrote in message
news:h5CdnercKoJEgJXUnZ2dnUVZ8rmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Hi to forum members,
>
> My Dell 5150 XP+SP2 has been running like a dream for several years but I
> had to go and upset it and now need your help quite urgently.
>
> I have Tweak-XP Pro v4 installed but seldom use it. However I was reading
> some stuff about speeding up performance by optimising the Prefetch
> settings and went and clicked the Re-Initialise the Prefetcher button.
>
> When I rebooted the start-up items failed to load and the were no icons in
> the right hand side of the Task Bar just the clock.
>
> I used System Restore and everything is fine but the next boot returns to
> the no icons situation. I have checked the start-up activity using
> WinPatrol and all of the start-up items are running.
>
> The prefetcher folder is the same in both conditions and only contains
> items dated 27th October (when I clicked were I made my mistake).
>
> Googling produces all sorts of suggestions but many conflicting ideas
> about resetting or deleting the Prefetch Folder. I don't want to make
> things worse and hope that a forum member might know how I can fix things
> so that I am not stuck with having to run system restore before I can use
> my computer.
>
> Please post suggestions or email me at this address
> epitaxialATdslDOTpipexDOTcom
>
> Jumbo who had a Senior Moment and got it all wrong.
>
> Silver Surfer
>

 

[Jumbo]

Re: Prefetch XP+SP2. I did something stupid and don't know how to reverse it.


"Jeff" <jrw8888@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:qI%Nk.100287$Mh5.96912@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> You may want to try right click on taskbar and hit customize button, then
> reset to default button.
>
> "Jumbo" <jumbo@dreamland.net> wrote in message
> news:h5CdnercKoJEgJXUnZ2dnUVZ8rmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
>> Hi to forum members,
>>
>> My Dell 5150 XP+SP2 has been running like a dream for several years but I
>> had to go and upset it and now need your help quite urgently.
>>
>> I have Tweak-XP Pro v4 installed but seldom use it. However I was reading
>> some stuff about speeding up performance by optimising the Prefetch
>> settings and went and clicked the Re-Initialise the Prefetcher button.
>>
>> When I rebooted the start-up items failed to load and the were no icons
>> in the right hand side of the Task Bar just the clock.
>>
>> I used System Restore and everything is fine but the next boot returns to
>> the no icons situation. I have checked the start-up activity using
>> WinPatrol and all of the start-up items are running.
>>
>> The prefetcher folder is the same in both conditions and only contains
>> items dated 27th October (when I clicked were I made my mistake).
>>
>> Googling produces all sorts of suggestions but many conflicting ideas
>> about resetting or deleting the Prefetch Folder. I don't want to make
>> things worse and hope that a forum member might know how I can fix things
>> so that I am not stuck with having to run system restore before I can use
>> my computer.
>>
>> Please post suggestions or email me at this address
>> epitaxialATdslDOTpipexDOTcom
>>
>> Jumbo who had a Senior Moment and got it all wrong.
>>
>> Silver Surfer
>>
>
>

Thanks everybody. Sadly no improvement yet.

Jumbo

 

[Kelly]

Re: Prefetch XP+SP2. I did something stupid and don't know how to reverse it.

Hi Jumbo,

Go to Start/Run/Msconfig. See if the programs in question are still listed
but unchecked.

Added info: Start/Run
rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

The above command is what bootvis does.

The Prefetcher component in Windows XP is part of the Memory Manager, and
helps to shorten the amount of time it takes to start Windows and programs.

Windows XP "monitors" itself and notices which applications are launched
frequently. It gathers information about these applications and what they
access with the launch and stores this information in the prefetch folder.

It then uses this information to "optimize" access to these files so that
they launch faster.

Once every three days, by default, Windows XP will perform a partial
defragmentation and adjust the layout of the disk based upon current use.
The files to be moved are written in the file Layout.ini (found in the
Prefetch directory under the System Root directory).

More information here on the Prefetch Folder in Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_p.htm#xp_prefetch


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

"Jumbo" <jumbo@dreamland.net> wrote in message
news:h5CdnercKoJEgJXUnZ2dnUVZ8rmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Hi to forum members,
>
> My Dell 5150 XP+SP2 has been running like a dream for several years but I
> had to go and upset it and now need your help quite urgently.
>
> I have Tweak-XP Pro v4 installed but seldom use it. However I was reading
> some stuff about speeding up performance by optimising the Prefetch
> settings and went and clicked the Re-Initialise the Prefetcher button.
>
> When I rebooted the start-up items failed to load and the were no icons in
> the right hand side of the Task Bar just the clock.
>
> I used System Restore and everything is fine but the next boot returns to
> the no icons situation. I have checked the start-up activity using
> WinPatrol and all of the start-up items are running.
>
> The prefetcher folder is the same in both conditions and only contains
> items dated 27th October (when I clicked were I made my mistake).
>
> Googling produces all sorts of suggestions but many conflicting ideas
> about resetting or deleting the Prefetch Folder. I don't want to make
> things worse and hope that a forum member might know how I can fix things
> so that I am not stuck with having to run system restore before I can use
> my computer.
>
> Please post suggestions or email me at this address
> epitaxialATdslDOTpipexDOTcom
>
> Jumbo who had a Senior Moment and got it all wrong.
>
> Silver Surfer
>