IPv6 Windows Firewall Driver (Ip6Fw) Service Defaults in Windows XP

Provides intrusion prevention service for a home or small office network.

The IPv6 Windows Firewall Driver service does not exist in:

Default Settings

Startup type: Manual
Display name:IPv6 Windows Firewall Driver
Service name:Ip6Fw
Service type:kernel
Error control:normal
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\DRIVERS\Ip6Fw.sys
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Ip6Fw

Default Behavior

IPv6 Windows Firewall Driver is a kernel device driver. In Windows XP it won't start until the current user starts it. If the IPv6 Windows Firewall Driver 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 Ip6Fw service has failed to start.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of IPv6 Windows Firewall Driver

1. Run the Command Prompt.

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

sc config Ip6Fw start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The Ip6Fw service is using the Ip6Fw.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 XP installation media.