Cannot start windows event log service on Windows 7. Error 4201.__

Anonymous
2009-11-15T05:12:47+00:00

Cannot start the Windows Event Log service on Local Computer.  Error 4201: The instance name passed was not recognized as valid by a WMI data provider.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2009-11-15T15:54:26+00:00

Hi Ramesh,

That did the trick.  For the record:

  1. Used msconfig to switch to safe mode boot
  2. Booted to safe mode
  3. ran cmd.exe as an administrator
  4. typed "cd C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\WMI"
  5. typed "rename RtBackup RtBackup2"
  6. Used msconfig to switch to normal boot mode
  7. Reboot and found event viewer working

Thank you! 

Rung

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Ramesh 181.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2009-11-15T06:53:44+00:00

Hi rung_windows7,

Renaming or deleting the following folder seems to work for some users:

C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\WMI\RtBackup

REF: Event log error 4201 - ERROR_WMI_INSTANCE_NOT_FOUND (a helluva great thread)

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Desktop Experience]

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-01T18:52:47+00:00

    First - Thanks! This affected my system logs which forced other services to fail etc. The only note I have is that I used the "Repair" menu option at boot time. That allowed me to open a command prompt with the difference being that the OS was 'booted' from a different logical drive so that no files in that sub folder were active (the reason for most of the access denied messages). Also, this happened after only 3 days of the system being up. Grrrr.

    My system: Windows 7 Ultimate 64 (Dell Installation)

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-01-27T09:11:40+00:00

    Damn, I love you man! :)

    After having spend several hours with internal IT-technicians that all resulted in "You need to reinstall your Windows" this did the trick!!!

    1000 thanks!

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-12-15T16:59:51+00:00

    Excellent!This worked for me!

    Thank you,

    Mike

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