How to restore Windows Services to their default state

Sometimes, when your computer is infected with a malware program (virus, trojan, rootkit, etc.), you face problems with critical Windows services, like Windows Firewall, Windows Update or other services which have been compromised or corrupted by the harmful program. In such cases, you must repair or restore these services to their default state.

This tutorial proposes an easy to try solution to restore critical Windows services to their default state.

Important steps before proceeding below:
1. Ensure that your computer is 100% clean from harmful programs like rootkits or viruses by following the steps in this guide: Quick Malware Scan and Removal Guide for PC's.

2. Enable the System Restore Protection (if disabled) and create a restore point before running the Services Repair Tool, in order to restore your computer back in current state if something goes wrong.

How to easily repair, restore or reset Windows services to their default state.

We have successfully applied the below solution several times to different computers in order to fix the following critical Windows services when they are missing or when they present errors as they are corrupted: *

• Windows Firewall service (MpsSvc): Error Code 5 or Error Code 0x8007042c
• Windows Update: Service cannot be started or service is missing from services list.
• Base filtering engine (BFE): couldn’t be started (Error 5: Access is denied).

* Note for Windows 10 Users: The instructions of this article was written in 2014 and has been proven to work on Windows 7, Vista, XP and on Windows Server 2003 & 2008. Because in the latest versions of Windows several services have changed, I recommend you to try to repair your Windows 10 system by running the SFC /SCANOW command in Admin Command Prompt, and then to manually restore the default "Startup Type" of the Windows services as mentioned in this PDF file: DefaultServicesWin10.pdf

1. Download the services repair tool by ESET on your computer (e.g. on your desktop).

2. Run "Services repair tool by ESET" with Administrative privileges.

To do this right-click on “ServicesRepair.exe” file and choose “Run as administrator”.

3. Press “Yes” to the information window.

4. Restart your computer to apply changes.

Windows critical services should run now!

Additional step to perform if Windows services are still missing, cannot be started or they are corrupted:

If you face problems with several services on your computer, then you can run the System File Checker (SFC) tool from command prompt to fix Windows services. To do that:

1. Open an elevated command prompt window by going to:

• Start > All Programs > Accessories
• Right-click to “Command prompt” item and choose “Run as administrator”.

2. In the command window type the following command and press Enter.

SFC /SCANNOW

3. Wait and do not use your computer until SFC tool checks and fixes the corrupted system files or services.

4, When SFC tool finishes, reboot your computer and check if Windows services are working again.

Note: If you face errors with specific Windows services then you can download and merge the default registry file for any specific service from this link: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/236709-services-restore-default-services-windows-7-a.html

Good luck!