Ancillary Function Driver for Winsock (AFD) Service Defaults in Windows 8
Ancillary Function Driver for Winsock.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | System |
| Display name: | Ancillary Function Driver for Winsock |
| Service name: | AFD |
| Service type: | kernel |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | PNP_TDI |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\afd.sys |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\AFD |
Default Behavior
The Ancillary Function Driver for Winsock service is a kernel device driver. In Windows 8 it is being loaded and initialized at Kernel initialization. If Ancillary Function Driver for Winsock fails to start, the error details are added to Windows 8 error log. When the operating system startup is complete, the user is being notified that the AFD service hasn't been started.
Dependencies
All the services listed below will not start if Ancillary Function Driver for Winsock is disabled:
- DHCP Client
- HomeGroup Provider
- Network Connected Devices Auto-Setup
- Network List Service
- Network Location Awareness
- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
- WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Ancillary Function Driver for Winsock
1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config AFD start= system
sc start AFD
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The AFD service is using the afd.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 8 installation media.