PfPre mkd file not showing on Prefetch folder.

Question

So I found an issue with the PfPre file on Prefetch folder. On the Prefetch folder, the PfPre MKD file is not showing. I delete the contents of the Prefetch folder for freeing up space. I tried going to services and restarted SysMain, but it did it again. How do I fix this issue? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hello, Daniel Walters2010

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

It's important to note that the absence of the PfPre MKD file in the Prefetch folder is generally not a cause for concern. The Prefetch folder is a system-managed directory that Windows uses to store optimized data for faster application launching. It is not a vital or legitimate Windows file, but a temporary file created by Windows for prefetching data and improving performance. The absence of a specific PfPre MKD file doesn't typically indicate a critical problem or affect the overall performance of your system.

If your computer is functioning normally and you're not experiencing any other issues, it's likely that the disappearance of the PfPre MKD file is due to normal system behavior or optimization processes. However, if you encounter any other problems or notice unusual behavior, here are some potential explanations:

1. Automatic deletion: Windows has built-in mechanisms to manage the contents of the Prefetch folder automatically. The operating system may periodically remove or clean up files in the Prefetch folder to optimize system performance. This could include removing old or unused PfPre MKD files. The deletion of these files is a normal behavior, and Windows will recreate them as needed.
2. Manual deletion by a third-party application: If you have a system optimization or cleaning tool installed on your computer, it might have deleted the PfPre MKD file as part of its cleanup process. Some third-party applications may consider Prefetch files unnecessary and delete them to free up disk space. Check if you have any such software installed and review its settings. Or you can perform a clean boot to try to find out what program is the root cause: How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support
3. System corruption or error: In some cases, system corruption or errors can cause files to go missing, including the PfPre MKD file. If other files or system components are also missing or behaving unexpectedly, there might be an underlying issue with your operating system. You may consider running a system scan or using built-in Windows tools like System File Checker (SFC) to check for and repair any system file issues: Using System File Checker in Windows - Microsoft Support.

Let me know if you have any other concerns.

Best regards

Yuhao Li

Microsoft Community Technical Support