Base Filtering Engine - Windows Vista Service
The Base Filtering Engine (BFE) is a service that manages firewall and Internet Protocol security (IPsec) policies and implements user mode filtering. Stopping or disabling the BFE service will significantly reduce the security of the system. It will also result in unpredictable behavior in IPsec management and firewall applications.
This service also exists in Windows 10, 11, 7 and 8.
Startup Type
| Windows Vista edition | without SP | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Home Basic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Home Premium | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Business | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Ultimate | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Default Properties
| Display name: | Base Filtering Engine |
| Service name: | BFE |
| Type: | share |
| Path: | %WinDir%\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceNoNetwork |
| File: | %WinDir%\System32\bfe.dll |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | NetworkProvider |
| Object: | NT AUTHORITY\LocalService |
| Privileges: |
|
Default Behavior
The Base Filtering Engine service starts as NT AUTHORITY\LocalService and runs in a shared process of svchost.exe. If Base Filtering Engine fails to start, the error is recorded into the Event Log. Windows Vista startup proceeds, but a message box is displayed informing you that the BFE service has failed to start. If you disable this service, then 5 other services will be unable to start (see the "Dependencies" section below).
Dependencies
Base Filtering Engine will not start, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service is stopped or disabled.
If the Base Filtering Engine is stopped, the following services will not start and initialize:
- IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
- Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
- IPsec Policy Agent
- Routing and Remote Access
- Windows Firewall
Restore Default Startup Type of Base Filtering Engine
Automated Restore
1. Select your Windows Vista edition and Service Pack, and then click on the Download button below.
2. Save the RestoreBaseFilteringEngineWindowsVista.bat file to any folder on your hard drive.
3. Right-click the downloaded batch file and select Run as administrator.
4. Restart the computer to save changes.
Note. Make sure that the bfe.dll file exists in the %WinDir%\System32 folder. If this file is missing you can try to restore it from your Windows Vista installation media.