Health Key and Certificate Management Service (hkmsvc) Defaults in Windows XP

Manages health certificates and keys (used by NAP).

The Health Key and Certificate Management Service exists only in:

Default Settings

Startup type: Manual
Display name:Health Key and Certificate Management Service
Service name:hkmsvc
Service type:share
Error control:normal
Object:localSystem
Path:%SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
File:%SystemRoot%\System32\kmsvc.dll
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\hkmsvc

Default Behavior

Health Key and Certificate Management Service is a Win32 service. In Windows XP it won't start until the current user starts it. When the Health Key and Certificate Management Service is started, it is running as localSystem in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other services and drivers are allowed to run in the same process. If the Health Key and Certificate Management Service fails to start, the technical information about the error is added to the Event Log. Windows XP startup should proceed, but a message box should be displayed informing the user that the hkmsvc service has failed to start.

Dependencies

Health Key and Certificate Management Service depends on the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Health Key and Certificate Management Service

Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Health Key and Certificate Management Service depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.

1. Run the Command Prompt.

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

sc config hkmsvc start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The hkmsvc service is using the kmsvc.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 XP installation media.