IPSEC Services (PolicyAgent) Defaults in Windows XP
Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security driver.
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Automatic |
| Display name: | IPSEC Services |
| Service name: | PolicyAgent |
| Service type: | share |
| Error control: | normal |
| Object: | LocalSystem |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\system32\lsass.exe |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PolicyAgent |
Default Behavior
IPSEC Services is a Win32 service. In Windows XP it is starting automatically along with the operating system. Then the IPSEC Services is running as LocalSystem in a shared process of lsass.exe. Other services and drivers are allowed to run in the same process. If the IPSEC Services 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 PolicyAgent service has failed to start.
Dependencies
IPSEC Services depends on the following system components:
Restore Default Startup Configuration of IPSEC Services
Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which IPSEC Services depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.1. Run the Command Prompt.
2. Copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config PolicyAgent start= auto
sc start PolicyAgent
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The PolicyAgent service is using the lsass.exe 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.