Extensible Authentication Protocol (EapHost) Service Defaults in Windows 7
The Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service provides network authentication in such scenarios as 802.1x wired and wireless, VPN, and Network Access Protection (NAP). EAP also provides application programming interfaces (APIs) that are used by network access clients, including wireless and VPN clients, during the authentication process. If you disable this service, your computer is prevented from accessing networks that require EAP authentication.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Manual |
| Display name: | Extensible Authentication Protocol |
| Service name: | EapHost |
| Service type: | share |
| Error control: | normal |
| Object: | localSystem |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs |
| File: | %SystemRoot%\System32\eapsvc.dll |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EapHost |
| Privileges: |
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Default Behavior
Extensible Authentication Protocol is a Win32 service. In Windows 7 it won't be started if the user doesn't start it. When the Extensible Authentication Protocol service is started, it is running as localSystem in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other system components, such as drivers and services, may run in the same process. If Extensible Authentication Protocol fails to start, Windows 7 attempts to write the failure details into Event Log. Then Windows 7 startup should proceed and the user should be notified that the EapHost service is not running because of the error.
Dependencies
Extensible Authentication Protocol is unable to start, if at least one of the following services is stopped or disabled:
If Extensible Authentication Protocol is stopped, the following services cannot start:
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Extensible Authentication Protocol
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Extensible Authentication Protocol depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config EapHost start= demand
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The EapHost service is using the eapsvc.dll file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 7 installation media.