Microsoft Hyper-V Generation Counter (gencounter) Service Defaults in Windows 10
Virtual Machine Generation Counter by Microsoft Corporation.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Manual |
| Display name: | Microsoft Hyper-V Generation Counter |
| Service name: | gencounter |
| Service type: | kernel |
| Error control: | normal |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\vmgencounter.sys |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\gencounter |
Default Behavior
Microsoft Hyper-V Generation Counter is a kernel device driver. In Windows 10 it is starting only if the user, an application or another service starts it. If Microsoft Hyper-V Generation Counter fails to start, the failure details are being recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 10 will start up and notify the user that the gencounter service has failed to start due to the error.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Microsoft Hyper-V Generation Counter
1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config gencounter start= demand
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The gencounter service is using the vmgencounter.sys file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 10 installation media.