What follows is a reprise of the method used by me to browse quickly to a folder such as the WindowsPrefetch.The contents of the PREFETCH folder can be quickly managed by the creation of a shortcut. Here's how to do it:* Right Click and Copy the Notepad shortcut icon and Paste it on your Desktop.* Right Click this new icon on your Desktop and select Properties.* Highlight and Copy the following path to the PREFETCH folder:C:WINDOWSexplorer.exe /n,/e,C:WindowsPrefetch ....(This assumes that XP is installed on the C Drive.)* Highlight the current contents in the Notepad Properties Shortcut "Target:" box, then Right Click and Paste the path to the PREFETCH folder. * Highlight and Delete the contents of Notepad Properties Shortcut "Start in:" box.* Click the "Apply" button and then "OK" to exit.* Right Click and Rename your newly configured Desktop Icon to, say, "Windows Prefetch".Now you can double click this icon to browse immediately to the PREFETCH folder.As explained in the original post this simple method can be applied to help the user browse quickly to other folders like the user's Cookies, Temporary Internet files and Temp.To make my life just that little bit easier, I have created a list of shortcuts under a CLEANUP category added to my START Menu. In addition I have a CLEANUP folder on my desktop with the same content of shortcut icons.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/96465.jpgMike

This deserves a place in the Tips and Tricks forum. Excellent write up Mike.

One of the tools I use to make my system maintenance easier is a RAM disk. For those unfamiliar with RAM disks, they are drives set-up in system memory. Since system memory is volatile (i.e. powering down the system, including rebooting, causes everything in memory to be lost), a portion of your RAM can be configured to act as a separate drive. All Internet stuff (cookies, GIF's, etc.) is easily directed to the RAM disk, thereby keeping that stuff from clogging up your hard drive.While it was possible to create a true RAM disk with Windows 95/98, the best we can hope for with XP (because of how it handles RAM and the Paging File) is to emulate a RAM disk. There are a number of options available but the best I've found is the QSoft RAM disk http://users.compaqnet.be/cn021945/RAMDisk/RAMDisk.htm . It is built on a modified MicroSoft Ram disk .dll that makes it easier to assign whatever drive letter you wish as well as define the size of the drive. The install is straightforward and configuring the disk to receive your Internet gems is even easier.The QSoft Ram disk is free for any drive capacity up to 64MB. This is the .exe I use. The 64MB size is good for many hours of browsing before XP tells you that the disk is running out of space, wherein you can either delete the contents of the disk or simply reboot.Once the disk is installed per the included .pdf file you can then direct all your Internet fondnesses to the RAM disk by clicking Start>Control Panel>Internet Options. In the box titled "Temporary Internet Files" click on "Settings". Next, make sure the "Amount of disk space to use" slider is set to correspond to the size of the drive you defined during the QSoft set-up, and then click on the "Move Folder" button to browse to your RAM disk. Click on "OK". Windows may want to log off... do so if it requests. When you come back on you can then navigate to System Devices to see your new RAM disk!One thing to keep in mind... with some websites (including Avsim) you may be required to log-on after each reboot (because that cookie has gone bye-bye). This may seem a pain to some, but for me it's a small price to pay to make the Internet "purging" automated.Cheers,Greg

Hi,11 November 2004Like me, some of you may have been experiencing recent difficulties connecting and downloading pattern updates from grisoft.com.I may be wrong, but I think this may have something to do with the fact that all support is being withdrawn from AVG Free Edition Version 6.0 in December 2004.Not to worry, the solution is simple:Download and install AVG FREE EDITION Version 7.0 - yes it's still free :) and fully compatible with XP SP2.http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/Ge...E/lng/us/tpl/v5No need to uninstall version 6.0 - the version 7.0 installer does it all for you.Also, note that there are a couple of .pdf files you should download as well - a reference guide and some advice about configuring your firewall (assuming you are using Windows XP Firewall, Kerio Personal Firewall or Zone Alarm Pro).Lastly, if you automate the process of file scanning after a download using a downloader utility the AVG file to point to is now 'avgw.exe' and the parameter to add to the executable is /SE.Mike

Surprise! I had some twenty dummy monitors! I have cleared them, but did not yet perform a restart. I wonder what will be the impact in my installation.Regards,

Hi Mike,Thanks for the excellent advise. Have had some concerns about complications associated with using Norton anti virus & other utilities. Your advise is going to push me over the edge and remove.Also plan on using the two registry utilities to clean up my old AMD 1800+ system.Just loaded FS2004. Had used FS2002 for some time. While the latest is certainly an improvement, concerned with always needing to access the 4 disk to start FS. Any advise there.Again, thanks for the fine post...probably one of the most usefull I've seen in some time.BobT

PANDA rocks. I have Panda Platinum. Best antivirus and firewall I ever had and I've had Norton, PC-cillin, McAfee, Dr. Solomon, the whole shebang. Panda is superb. Will never be without it. A+.JS

Mike,Are you recommending that we delete the contents for prefetch folder daily? thxVernon

Hi Vernon,Check out my post higher up this thread #14 ("RE: Routine System Maintenance - Windows XP (ADDENDUM)").I think much depends on how you use your PC. If it's dedicated to FS9 then it is probably unnecessary to delete the contents of the Prefetch folder since the folder content is unlikely to change very much over time.On the other hand, if you are like me and your PC handles everything bar the kitchen sink then it is very likely your day-to-day useage of programs/utilities/applications will vary a great deal. Some of these will be used perhaps only rarely, so it is not really terribly important to have them laid out on the hard drive optimally. The same, however, cannot be said for our favourite sim FS9 and, for that matter, any other programs used on a daily basis where the speed of loading and general responsiveness becomes all important to the end user.If you use your PC daily and you recognize similarities in our working behaviour then I would recommend you delete the Prefetch folder contents, say, once a week but no more frequently than every 3 days. Windows XP needs that long for the efficient execution of its optimization routines which are dependent on the info found in the Prefetch folder. That information reflects your habitual use of your PC and is also a record of what is loaded into memory during each boot cycle when you start Windows.It will do no harm to delete the Prefetch folder contents on a daily basis or at the end of each computing session, but doing so may hinder XP's ability to optimize the layout of frequently used programs on your hard drive/s. To me this makes no sense since a hard drive that has been fully optimized will perform much more efficiently and will be subject to far less wear and tear.Mike

thank you ... you have very extremely helpful ... I am now following your system maintenance routine ...Vernon

hello thanks for the info , i have alrady started to do some of the things you requested, one problem is the regisry compactor, when i go to register it takes me to a site that is not in english can you help me.Thanks.....robert

Hi Robert,It's now called "Registry Compressor" - the following links should help send you on your way:http://www.rosecitysoftware.com/RegistryCompressor/http://www.rosecitysoftware.com/RegistryCo...r/register.htmlMike

thanks mike, great stuffalso, what about Ace Utilities is this any good?http://www.acelogix.com/thanksciao!Brian S

THANK YOU MIKE!! You have put the light on a subject , which has for me, has be in the dark.You should put this know how and tips on a DVD,and sell it.. Your two posts here now has really enlightened me. THANX AGAIN!! "HOOT MON!" VIN USA:-beerchug

I have a programme installed called "advanced system optimiser". It appears to do all this and more.Anyone know anything about commercial system optimisers and which are best?Peter