USN Journal in Vista

Do you have any experience with batch or script files?

If so, you could write a batch/script file to run that command and modify Group Policy to run that batch/script file at logon or even use Task Scheduler to run that command at a specific time.

Just a suggestion.  I personally did not know what the USN Journal was until I stumbled across this Post.  :)

Ken,

It doesn't really explain too much, to be honest. I do not use the Indexing Service (switched that off almost immediately after switching the machine on for the first time) and I cannot seem to figure out if I even need FRS or DFS as my laptop is on a network without shares of any kind. I'm getting the feeling as I don't use the Indexing Service and I don't need file replication across a server, I wouldn't need the USN in any form whatsoever.

Thanks for copying and pasting the quote from the FSUTIL technet article.

As this is information I have already seen, this query is still unresolved.

QuickHare

Hi QuickHare

The USN journal is a fixed-size log that records all changes to NTFS 5.0-based partitions. Some applications use the USN journal to track changes that occur on the file system.

Deleting the change journal impacts the File Replication service (FRS) and the Indexing Service, because it would require these services to perform a complete (and time-consuming) scan of the volume. This in turn negatively impacts FRS SYSVOL replication and replication between DFS link alternates while the volume is being rescanned.

For more information on using FSUTIL in regards to the USN please visit the following link:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc788042(WS.10).aspx

Please let us know if this helped to resolve/answer your question - thank you

Ken

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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Chris,

Thank you for your response.

I have yet to receive an error from it, however it keeps fragmenting, causing trouble with ChkDisk and slows the hard drive performance with the constant writing.

You say I may have a problem or two from not using it. What parts of Windows Vista would cease to operate, or is this a general problem experienced by those who have attempted to disable it? I have learned thus far that Microsoft tend to scare people into doing what Microsoft want to keep Microsoft products in use or to provide statistics like "98% of all people out there use this product" which makes third-party developing harder to enter the market.

QuickHare

Hi QuickHare,

Thanks for using the Vista Answers Forum.

Vista is different from XP in a few areas, one being security.

The USN Journal logs changes to the NTFS volumes and is protected from most levels of user accounts.

YOu can find more information about it by searching the phrase "USN Journal".

You may be able to disable with the built-in Administrator account, but you may have a problem or two because of not using it.

Is it causing an error you could post to this thread?

Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Chris

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.