For each load order group, the Load Order Group column contains the value that should be specified for that group in the LoadOrderGroup entry in the Version section of a filter's INF file. The following table lists the system-defined load order groups for file system filter drivers. If a file system filter driver does not specify a load order group, it is loaded after all of the other drivers of the same start type that do specify a load order group. Within each load order group, filter drivers are loaded in random order.
The following rules about load order groups determine when a file system filter driver will be loaded:Ī file system filter driver that specifies a particular load order group is loaded at the same time as other filter drivers in that group. As a result, load order groups are important to file system filter drivers, because the earlier a filter driver loads, the lower it can attach on the file system driver stack. On operating systems before Windows XP, filter drivers could use only the 'filter' and 'file system' load order groups.Ī filter can attach only to the top of an existing file system driver stack and cannot attach in the middle of a stack. Microsoft Windows XP and later operating systems provide a dedicated set of load order groups for file system filter drivers that are loaded at system startup time. Load Order Groups for File System Filter Drivers
