Base Filtering Engine (BFE) Service Defaults in Windows 7
The Base Filtering Engine (BFE) is a service that manages firewall and Internet Protocol security (IPsec) policies and implements user mode filtering. Stopping or disabling the BFE service will significantly reduce the security of the system. It will also result in unpredictable behavior in IPsec management and firewall applications.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Automatic |
| Display name: | Base Filtering Engine |
| Service name: | BFE |
| Service type: | share |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | NetworkProvider |
| Object: | NT AUTHORITY\LocalService |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceNoNetwork |
| File: | %SystemRoot%\System32\bfe.dll |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BFE |
| Privileges: |
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Default Behavior
Base Filtering Engine is a Win32 service. In Windows 7 it is starting automatically on the operating system startup. Then the Base Filtering Engine service is running as NT AUTHORITY\LocalService in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other system components, such as drivers and services, may run in the same process. If Base Filtering Engine 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 BFE service is not running because of the error.
Dependencies
Base Filtering Engine is unable to start, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service is stopped or disabled.
If Base Filtering Engine is stopped, the following services cannot start:
- IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
- Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
- IPsec Policy Agent
- Routing and Remote Access
- Windows Firewall
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Base Filtering Engine
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Base Filtering Engine 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 commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config BFE start= auto
sc start BFE
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The BFE service is using the bfe.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.