It’s
probably come to your attention now that if WFP replaces protected system
files then how exactly can they be updated with newer versions? Well there
are several ways this can be done.
1.
During installation of
Microsoft Windows Service Packs.
2.
Updates installed using Windows
Update.
3.
Installation of Microsoft
Hotfixes. Hotfixes from Microsoft are installed via the use of hotfix.exe,
which allows the replacement of protected system files without WFP
interfering. Most Hotfixes for Windows 2000/XP are then combined into the Service
Packs, although Hotfixes are always available before Service Packs (As
such Hotfixes are temporary fixes). A list of installed Hotfixes can be
viewed in Add/Remove Programs, e.g.
As you can see the
2 Hotfixes shown above will be part of Windows XP Service Pack 1.
4.
Operating System
installation/upgrades that use Winnt32.exe.
There is of course another less automated
way to change system files, that being to first copy the file into the dllcache
folder, over-writing the current copy, then trying to replace the system
file itself as located in the system32 directory, or wherever it may.
Should WFP initiate by this it will merely replace the system file with
the one stored in the dllcache folder – which by now would have already
been changed to the same as what you want to replace the system file with.
The opposite however is not true, i.e. do not try replace the system file,
then replace the dllcache’s copy.
Before
you start to do anything with WFP you must be logged in as an Administrator.
Many of the changes you can make require you to have such
administrative privileges, so save yourself a lot of trouble & just be
sure you are logged on as Administrator now.
After
you have logged in as administrator you should update an ERD (Emergency
Repair Disk). Although it’s unlikely you’ll need this,
it’s best to be safe. To make an ERD take the following steps;
1.
Click on Start, (All
Programs) Programs, Accessories, System Tools
then Backup.
2.
Select the Emergency
Repair Disk option in the Welcome tab in Windows 2000 &
backup your registry (This is where any changes you make to WFP are
stored).
Now that you’ve backed up & are logged
on as the correct user we can get to use WFP.
