Programming Forums > Application Development > Visual Basic .NET

NightShade01 · Aug 19th, 2006, 10:34 PM

I'm writing a small app that's only task is to search for the windows prefetch folder and delete all that's in it. now this can be done by searching and just deleting the entire directory (it will re create itself) or you can search and then write a do...while loop to delete individual things within it. Which way is more acceptable/practical? or does is not matter?

King · Aug 19th, 2006, 10:41 PM

It probably does not really matter; I would just delete the directory itself. The prefetch folder will just re-create itself, so there is no point in taking extra cycles to go in and delete the individual files.

AntiNinja · Aug 19th, 2006, 10:43 PM

(Toggle Plain Text)

cd /d %WINDIR%\Prefetch\
del /q *.*

That's what I would do, its easy, quick and gets the job done, plain and simple.

King · Aug 19th, 2006, 10:50 PM

NightShade01, if you are writing this program to learn how do manage files then go for it, but if you are writing this to make things easier for yourself, I would probably do what AntiNinja posted.

NightShade01 · Aug 20th, 2006, 12:42 AM

I am writing this little app as part of a larger project however i know what AntiNinja is talking about (batch fiiling) and i can just incorporate that into my code. I was just wondering if one was better programming Etiquette

King · Aug 20th, 2006, 2:06 AM

As far as programming etiquette goes, they are both fine in this case. If the prefetch folder didn't regenerate automatically, it would be a bad idea to just delete the whole folder, but it does, so it would be more efficient programmatically to just delete the whole thing at once.

Ooble · Aug 20th, 2006, 3:26 PM

It's generally a bad idea to nuke your Prefetch folder. Windows uses the folder to store information on program loading so the application will load faster the next time. You may be saving a miniscule amount of disk space, but you're wasting your own time by deleting the folder. With hard drive prices so damn low, there's really no reason to delete it.

King · Aug 20th, 2006, 4:01 PM

Ooble, I don't think it's that bad of an idea to delete the Prefetch folder once in a while. It gets filled with a bunch of crap, especially if you have changed what process get started on boot up. So deleting it once in a while and having windows regenerate it is a good idea because it cleans out a bunch of useless crap, and windows will put only what it needs back in. But you are right; doing this will save very little disk space and will probably have very little performance gain.

Ooble · Aug 20th, 2006, 4:21 PM

My point is that it will have negative performance gain. You're right - some programs will not exist any more, or will be applications you don't use, but the majority will be very useful.

King · Aug 20th, 2006, 4:47 PM

When Windows reboots and sees that it is not there, it will re-create it and put the nessisary files back in. So the first boot when it's not there will be slower, but after that it will be back up to speed, with a lot less crap in the folder.

Aug 19th, 2006, 10:34 PM	#1
NightShade01 Programmer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 52 Rep Power: 4	Better Code I'm writing a small app that's only task is to search for the windows prefetch folder and delete all that's in it. now this can be done by searching and just deleting the entire directory (it will re create itself) or you can search and then write a do...while loop to delete individual things within it. Which way is more acceptable/practical? or does is not matter?

Aug 19th, 2006, 10:41 PM	#2
King Professional Programmer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 380 Rep Power: 3	It probably does not really matter; I would just delete the directory itself. The prefetch folder will just re-create itself, so there is no point in taking extra cycles to go in and delete the individual files. __________________ I am Addicted to Linux!

Aug 19th, 2006, 10:43 PM	#3
AntiNinja Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The States Posts: 101 Rep Power: 3	(Toggle Plain Text) cd /d %WINDIR%\Prefetch\ del /q . cd /d %WINDIR%\Prefetch\ del /q . That's what I would do, its easy, quick and gets the job done, plain and simple. __________________ Pain is just weakness leaving the body.

Aug 19th, 2006, 10:50 PM	#4
King Professional Programmer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 380 Rep Power: 3	NightShade01, if you are writing this program to learn how do manage files then go for it, but if you are writing this to make things easier for yourself, I would probably do what AntiNinja posted. __________________ I am Addicted to Linux!

Aug 20th, 2006, 2:06 AM	#6
King Professional Programmer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 380 Rep Power: 3	As far as programming etiquette goes, they are both fine in this case. If the prefetch folder didn't regenerate automatically, it would be a bad idea to just delete the whole folder, but it does, so it would be more efficient programmatically to just delete the whole thing at once. __________________ I am Addicted to Linux!

Aug 20th, 2006, 12:42 AM	#5
NightShade01 Programmer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 52 Rep Power: 4	I am writing this little app as part of a larger project however i know what AntiNinja is talking about (batch fiiling) and i can just incorporate that into my code. I was just wondering if one was better programming Etiquette

Aug 20th, 2006, 3:26 PM	#7
Ooble I eat cake for breakfast. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my box. Posts: 4,434 Rep Power: 9	It's generally a bad idea to nuke your Prefetch folder. Windows uses the folder to store information on program loading so the application will load faster the next time. You may be saving a miniscule amount of disk space, but you're wasting your own time by deleting the folder. With hard drive prices so damn low, there's really no reason to delete it. __________________ Me :: You :: Them

Aug 20th, 2006, 4:01 PM	#8
King Professional Programmer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 380 Rep Power: 3	Ooble, I don't think it's that bad of an idea to delete the Prefetch folder once in a while. It gets filled with a bunch of crap, especially if you have changed what process get started on boot up. So deleting it once in a while and having windows regenerate it is a good idea because it cleans out a bunch of useless crap, and windows will put only what it needs back in. But you are right; doing this will save very little disk space and will probably have very little performance gain. __________________ I am Addicted to Linux!

Aug 20th, 2006, 4:21 PM	#9
Ooble I eat cake for breakfast. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In my box. Posts: 4,434 Rep Power: 9	My point is that it will have negative performance gain. You're right - some programs will not exist any more, or will be applications you don't use, but the majority will be very useful. __________________ Me :: You :: Them

Aug 20th, 2006, 4:47 PM	#10
King Professional Programmer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 380 Rep Power: 3	When Windows reboots and sees that it is not there, it will re-create it and put the nessisary files back in. So the first boot when it's not there will be slower, but after that it will be back up to speed, with a lot less crap in the folder. __________________ I am Addicted to Linux!

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