PEAUTH Service Defaults in Windows 7

Protected Environment Authentication and Authorization Export Driver by Microsoft Corporation.

Default Settings

Startup type: Automatic
Display name:PEAUTH
Service name:PEAUTH
Service type:kernel
Error control:normal
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\peauth.sys
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PEAUTH

Default Behavior

PEAUTH is a kernel device driver. In Windows 7 it is starting automatically on the operating system startup. If PEAUTH 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 PEAUTH service is not running because of the error.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of PEAUTH

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config PEAUTH start= auto
sc start PEAUTH

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The PEAUTH service is using the peauth.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 7 installation media.