Overview

This article describes the possible ways to change the process priority on softdrive computer and fleet computers. 

Procedure

There are 3 ways the process priority can be changed, Please choose the best option according to your environment.

Option 1: Group Policy

Using Administrative Templates / Registry Preference

1. Open Group Policy Management Editor
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration → Preferences → Windows Settings → Registry
3. Right-click → New → Registry Item
4. Configure:
   • Action: Create
   • Hive:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
   • Key Path:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\SoftdriveServer.exe\PerfOptions
   • Value name:CpuPriorityClass
   • Value type:REG_DWORD
   • Value data:3
5. Click OK and link the GPO to the appropriate OU

The parent keys (Image File Execution Options\SoftdriveServer.exe and PerfOptions) will be created automatically — you don't need separate entries for each.

Ideal for hybrid domain joined environment, group polices apply faster than Intune policy which will be beneficial on fleets computer.

Option 2: Intune

1. Go to Intune Admin Center → Devices → Configuration → Create → New Policy
2. Platform: Windows 10 and later, Profile type: Custom
3. Add an OMA-URI setting:
   • Name:SoftdriveServer CpuPriorityClass
   • OMA-URI:

• Data type:Integer
• Value:3

4. Assign to your device group and save.

Ideal for Azure AD joined, there may be delay after a user logs in for the policies to apply, so not ideal for fleets computer.

Option 3: Template

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, hit Enter
2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options

3. Right-click Image File Execution Options → New → Key → name it SoftdriveServer.exe
4. Right-click SoftdriveServer.exe → New → Key → name it PerfOptions
5. Right-click inside PerfOptions → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value → name it CpuPriorityClass
6. Double-click CpuPriorityClass → set value to 3, base Decimal → OK

More time consuming than other options, however it ensures every machine has this policy from start. Idea if you have few managed images.