Optimizing Windows File Protection Service

ID: Q229656

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

To optimize the Windows File Protection service (WFP), you can increase the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dllcache folder to its maximum size to eliminate the need to have media inserted to replace files.


MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

NOTE: You should use Backup.exe in Windows 2000 to back up the system state before following the steps in this article.

Maximizing the Dllcache Folder

  1. Use Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) to locate the following value:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SFCQuota


  2. Set the SFCQuota value to 0xFFFFFFFF. This value caches all protected files. The default value of 0x32 (hexadecimal) is 50 MB of space reserved for the cache in Windows 2000 Professional.


  3. Quit Regedt32.exe.


  4. Type sfc /scannow at a command prompt. This causes the System File Checker tool to verify all protected file versions and add all missing protected files to the Dllcache folder.


Both the SFCQuota and SFCDllCacheDir values can be set during unattended Setup. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q222472 Unattended Setup Settings for the Windows File Protection Feature
For additional information about WFP, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q222193 Description of the Windows 2000 Windows File Protection Feature
Q222471 Description of the Windows 2000 System File Checker Tool
Windows 2000 fills the Dllcache up to its cache size limit until you reach 150 MB of free space remaining. If you have 150 MB or less of free space remaining with the installation of Windows 2000, your Dllcache should be empty. The default cache size limit for Professional is 50 MB For Server products the minimum is 300 MB.

Additional query words: wfp sfp

Keywords : kbenv kbtool
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo


Last Reviewed: January 21, 2000
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