Performance Counters for Windows Driver (pcw) Service Defaults in Windows 8
Performance Counters for Windows Driver by Microsoft Corporation.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Boot |
| Display name: | Performance Counters for Windows Driver |
| Service name: | pcw |
| Service type: | kernel |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | Base |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\pcw.sys |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\pcw |
Default Behavior
The Performance Counters for Windows Driver service is a kernel device driver. In Windows 8 it is being loaded by Boot Loader before Kernel initialization. If Performance Counters for Windows Driver 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 pcw service hasn't been started.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Performance Counters for Windows Driver
1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config pcw start= boot
sc start pcw
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The pcw service is using the pcw.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.