Workstation (LanmanWorkstation) Service Defaults in Windows 8
Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers using the SMB protocol. If this service is stopped, these connections will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Automatic |
| Display name: | Workstation |
| Service name: | LanmanWorkstation |
| Service type: | share |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | NetworkProvider |
| Object: | NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService |
| File: | %SystemRoot%\System32\wkssvc.dll |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation |
| Privileges: |
|
Default Behavior
Workstation is a Win32 service. In Windows 8 it is starting automatically during the operating system startup. Then the Workstation service runs as NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService in a process of svchost.exe, sharing it with other services. If Workstation 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 LanmanWorkstation service hasn't been started.
Dependencies
Workstation can't start, if any service from the list below is disabled or not available:
- Browser Support Driver
- Network Store Interface Service
- SMB 1.x MiniRedirector
- SMB 2.0 MiniRedirector
All the services listed below will not start if Workstation is disabled:
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Workstation
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Workstation 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 LanmanWorkstation start= auto
sc start LanmanWorkstation
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The LanmanWorkstation service is using the wkssvc.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 8 installation media.