diff --git a/src/file.cpp b/src/file.cpp
index 24fa0c77b..83c066778 100644
--- a/src/file.cpp
+++ b/src/file.cpp
@@ -894,8 +894,12 @@ namespace libtorrent
 		open_mode_t const& m = mode_array[mode & rw_mask];
 		DWORD a = attrib_array[(mode & attribute_mask) >> 12];
 
+		// one might think it's a good idea to pass in FILE_FLAG_RANDOM_ACCESS. It
+		// turns out that it isn't. That flag will break your operating system:
+		// http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2549369
+
 		DWORD flags
-			= ((mode & random_access) ? FILE_FLAG_RANDOM_ACCESS : 0)
+			= ((mode & random_access) ? 0 : FILE_FLAG_SEQUENTIAL_SCAN)
 			| (a ? a : FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL)
 			| ((mode & no_buffer) ? FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED | FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING : 0);