Applies ToWindows 8.1 Windows 8.1 Enterprise Windows 8.1 Pro

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

  • You're using a computer that's running Windows 8.1.

  • The file system is NTFS.

  • You try to write very large sparse files to disk.

In this scenario, the sparse files may be more fragmented than necessary, with many 64-KB segments.

Cause

This problem occurs because of the NTFS by-design behavior for sparse files. NTFS searches for the smallest available space that is at least big enough for the sparse file's non-zeroed region. This hotfix improves sparse file performance and reduces fragmentation by allocating larger chunks.

Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft Support. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix. Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, go to the following Microsoft website:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=supportNote The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this update, you must first have update 2919355 installed in Windows 8.1.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any previously released hotfix.

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows 8.1 file information and notesImportant Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows 8.1" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 8.1" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

    Version

    Product

    Milestone

    Service branch

    6.3.960 0.17 xxx

    Windows 8.1

    RTM

    GDR

  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows 8.1" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Ntfs.sys

6.3.9600.17120

1,680,728

10-May-2014

08:24

x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Ntfs.sys

6.3.9600.17120

2,013,528

10-May-2014

10:11

x64

For all supported ARM-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Ntfs.sys

6.3.9600.17120

1,493,856

10-May-2014

05:56

Not Applicable

Additional file information for Windows 8.1

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name

X86_032e17870bf1eb2b700b9bd2ab17ed95_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17120_none_12fd83e8a3515719.manifest

File version

Not Applicable

File size

692

Date (UTC)

10-May-2014

Time (UTC)

16:39

Platform

Not Applicable

File name

X86_microsoft-windows-ntfs_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17120_none_3b4db21038584122.manifest

File version

Not Applicable

File size

16,005

Date (UTC)

10-May-2014

Time (UTC)

08:40

Platform

Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name

Amd64_ecd67debb8c87c17200b921751f3d761_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17120_none_f29492b59e06331d.manifest

File version

Not Applicable

File size

696

Date (UTC)

10-May-2014

Time (UTC)

16:40

Platform

Not Applicable

File name

Amd64_microsoft-windows-ntfs_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17120_none_976c4d93f0b5b258.manifest

File version

Not Applicable

File size

16,011

Date (UTC)

10-May-2014

Time (UTC)

11:30

Platform

Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported ARM-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name

Arm_d9a1fa1033f3fba0e2d76ea67382a558_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17120_none_58aeca0c01d742c0.manifest

File version

Not Applicable

File size

692

Date (UTC)

10-May-2014

Time (UTC)

16:41

Platform

Not Applicable

File name

Arm_microsoft-windows-ntfs_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17120_none_3b50246838555fe8.manifest

File version

Not Applicable

File size

16,005

Date (UTC)

10-May-2014

Time (UTC)

06:12

Platform

Not Applicable

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

References

Learn about the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe software updates.

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