Windows Resource Protection - Protected Resources

Protected Resources

Windows Resource Protection protects a large number of file types:

*.acm *.ade *.adp *.app *.asa *.asp *.aspx *.ax *.bas *.bat *.bin *.cer *.chm *.clb *.cmd
*.cnt *.cnv *.com *.cpl *.cpx *.crt *.csh *.dll *.drv *.dtd *.exe *.fxp *.grp *.h1s *.hlp
*.hta *.ime *.inf *.ins *.isp *.its *.js *.jse *.ksh *.lnk *.mad *.maf *.mag *.mam *.man
*.maq *.mar *.mas *.mat *.mau *.mav *.maw *.mda *.mdb *.mde *.mdt *.mdw *.mdz *.msc *.msi
*.msp *.mst *.mui *.nls *.ocx *.ops *.pal *.pcd *.pif *.prf *.prg *.pst *.reg *.scf *.scr
*.sct *.shb *.shs *.sys *.tlb *.tsp *.url *.vb *.vbe *.vbs *.vsmacros *.vss *.vst *.vsw *.ws
*.wsc *.wsf *.wsh *.xsd *.xsl

WRP also protects several critical folders. A folder containing only WRP-protected files may be locked so that only the Windows trusted installer SID is able to create files or subfolders in the folder. A folder may be partially locked to enable administrators to create files and subfolders in the folder. Essential registry keys installed by Windows Vista are also protected. If a key is protected by WRP, all its sub-keys and values can be protected. Also, WRP copies only those files that are needed to restart Windows to the cache directory located at %WinDir%\WinSxS\Backup. Critical files that are not needed to restart Windows are not copied to the cache directory, unlike Windows File Protection which cached the entire set of protected file types in the Dllcache folder. The size of the cache directory and the list of files copied to cache cannot be modified.

Windows Resource Protection applies stricter measures to protect files. As a result, Windows File Protection is not available under Windows Vista. In order to replace any single protected file, Windows File Protection had to be disabled completely; Windows Resource Protection works on a per-item basis by setting ACLs. Therefore, by taking ownership of any single item, that particular item can be replaced, while other items remain protected.

System File Checker is also integrated with WRP. Under Windows Vista, Sfc.exe can be used to check specific folder paths, including the Windows folder and the boot folder.