Where are offline files stored in Vista?

Offline files are stored in the folder [systemdrive]:\windows\csc. If the system drive is C: then offline files cache will be in the folder c:\windows\csc. This is system default location and can be changed by editing the registry key Databaselocation.

Delete offline files in Vista

The local cache of offline files can be deleted/reinitialized by setting the registry key FormatDatabase to 1 under the following node.


HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CSC\Parameters

Type: REG_SZ



After this machine need to be rebooted. Post reboot we can notice that there are no offline files stored in CSC cache.

Important note:

• This registry change will be effective for only one reboot.
• This registry change works only for Windows Vista, in XP we have registry key under a different node path. In XP we also have user interface button to delete offline files.

Offline files in Vista Home edition

Vista Home and Vista Home Premium does not support offline files feature. See the table below to know which editions support offline files.

Windows 2000	Supports Offline files
XP Home	Does not support Offline files
XP Professional	Supports Offline files
Vista Home	Does not support Offline files
Vista Home Premium	Does not support Offline files
Vista Business	Supports Offline files
Vista Ultimate	Supports Offline files

Vista offline files

Here are some articles on offline files in Windows Vista operating system.

• How to enable offline files in Vista
• How to disable offline files in Vista
• Encrypt offline files in Windows Vista
• Offline files location in Vista

 

Offline files location in Vista

Offline files cache is stored in windows\csc folder on system drive. If the system drive is labeled c: then offline files cache would be stored in c:\windows\csc.


As in windows XP, this location can be changed by editing registry database. Registry key for this is HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CSC\Parameters\CacheLocation

Type: REG_SZ




By default cache is stored in [systemdrive]:\windows\csc. If you want to move it to some other location you can do it by setting the above registry value to the path of the new location. Note that this path should be specified in NT format. For example, if you want d:\newcachefolder to be the place for csc cache then you should assign the value \??\d:\newcachefolder to the above registry value.


Though we have this option of changing the offline files location in Windows XP too, the registry key is different there.

Encrypt offline files in Windows Vista

On Windows Vista offline files can be encrypted as follows.

• Click on Start button
  
• Select Control Panel
• Click on Network & Internet
• Click on Offline files
• Select Encryption tab

• Now click on Encrypt button

How to disable offline files in Vista

On Windows Vista system Offline files feature can be disabled as follows.

• Click on Start -> Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Offline Files.
• In General tab, click on Disable Offline Files.
• Click on 'continue' if user account control asks for confirmation.