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Display Name (?):

Distributed Link Tracking Client

Short Name (?):

TrkWks

Executable (?):

svchost.exe

Library (?):

trkwks.dll

Depends On (?):

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

Supports (?):

None.

Description (?):

Maintains links between NTFS files within a computer or across computers in a network domain.

OS (?):

2000 Professional, XP Home/Professional, Vista Home/Business, 2000 Server, Server 2003, Vista Server

Startup (?):

Default	Home	Workstation	Server	Minimal	Tweaked	Automatic
Automatic	Disabled	Automatic	Automatic	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled

Explanation (?):

The distributed link tracking client service is used to store information about files moving between volumes on a domain. This service requires both volumes to be on NTFS version 5 (Windows 2000 and above). This service is only needed on a server or a workstation in a domain controlled environment and the average user can and should disable it, or at least set it to manual.

The service itself is useful for active directory. It is used in tracking shell shortcuts and OLE application links. The objects themselves are stored and transferred to the distributed link tracking server service on a domain controller so that it can maintain up-to-date links. Even on a domain problems can occur with restoring files so that double GUIDs exist and if the database becomes too large.