Volume Manager Driver (volmgr) Service Defaults in Windows 8

Volume Manager Driver by Microsoft Corporation.

Default Settings

Startup type: Boot
Display name:Volume Manager Driver
Service name:volmgr
Service type:kernel
Error control:critical
Group:System Bus Extender
Path:%SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\volmgr.sys
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\volmgr

Default Behavior

The Volume Manager Driver service is a kernel device driver. In Windows 8 it is being loaded by Boot Loader before Kernel initialization. If Volume Manager Driver fails to load or initialize, the error details should be automatically logged. Then Windows 8 is restarting the PC and attempting to use the Last Known Good configuration. If the Last Known Good configuration isn't working properly, Windows 8 startup ends with a Stop error. If you disable the volmgr service, Windows 8 will fail to start.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Volume Manager 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 volmgr start= boot
sc start volmgr

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The volmgr service is using the volmgr.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.