Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder (rspndr) Service Defaults in Windows 8

Link-Layer Topology Responder Driver for NDIS 6 by Microsoft Corporation.

Default Settings

Startup type: Automatic
Display name:Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder
Service name:rspndr
Service type:kernel
Error control:normal
Group:NDIS
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\DRIVERS\rspndr.sys
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\rspndr

Default Behavior

The Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder service is a kernel device driver. In Windows 8 it is starting automatically during the operating system startup. If Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder 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 rspndr service hasn't been started.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

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

sc config rspndr start= auto
sc start rspndr

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The rspndr service is using the rspndr.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.