Failed to Connect to a Windows Service message

Anonymous
2009-11-05T12:57:08+00:00

I upgraded my Notebook to Windows 7 yesterday. It was fine for a little while, but now I am getting the message:

Failed to connect to a Windows service - Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification Service service (sic). Now Windows is slow to startup, slow to shut down, and the graphics have been "dumbed down" (no Aero graphics). Anyone have any ideas as to what I can do to get back to normal ?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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
2009-11-05T21:54:44+00:00

Hi Prufrockster,

Welcome to Microsoft Windows 7 Answers Forum!

You can try  resetting the winsock.

To repair and reset the winsock in Windows 7.

  1. Click on Start button.
  2. Type Cmd in the Start Search text box.
  3. Right click on cmd.exe  and Run Command Prompt as an Administrator. Allow elevation request.
  4. Type netsh winsock reset in the Command Prompt shell, and then press the Enter key.

    Restart the computer.

The similar issue was discussed on the below mentioned Microsoft websites also.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproinstall/thread/baa536f6-ca78-494b-8416-c1eef18c68a9

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/windowscompatibility/thread/983e0736-57ef-4c6a-bb10-cfb2712dde24/

For advanced troubleshooting you can check in Safe Mode and perform a Clean Boot Troubleshooting.

Please check whether you face the same issue while working in the safe mode. 

  1. Restart your computer.
  2. When the computer starts you will see your computer's hardware being listed. When you see this information start to gently tap the F8 key on your keyboard repeatedly until you are presented with the Windows 7 Advanced Boot Options screen.
  3. Using the arrow keys, select the Safe Mode option you want.
  4. Then press the enter key on your keyboard to boot into Windows 7 Safe Mode.
  5. When Windows starts you will be at a typical logon screen. Logon to your computer and Windows 7 will enter Safe mode.
  6. Do whatever tasks you require, and when you are done, reboot to go back into normal mode.

Clean Boot Troubleshooting. 

  1. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

   User Account Control permission.

   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the

   password, Or click Continue.

  1. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
  2. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup items check box.
  3. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
  4. Click OK.
  5. When you are prompted, click Restart.
  6. After the computer starts, check whether the problem is resolved.

If the issue is resolved check which third party is causing the problem, referring the link given below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Also you need to uninstall and reinstall the problem software on your computer.

Reset the computer to start as usual

After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start as usual:

Click Start, type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue. On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.

When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart.

Hope it helps.   

Thanks and Regards:

**Shekhar S - Microsoft Support.**Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-10-31T04:01:58+00:00

    The "netsh winsock reset" did not work.   Any other ideas.  I have a Dell, with windows 7, home premium, Viruscan software and just lost internet capability.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-11T14:00:33+00:00

    Solved, for me Windows 7 Ultimate x64

    I just encountered this problem 3 days ago. it  took 3 days for me to solved this problem. 

    I tried every solutions from google starting from

    1. Remove/uninstall Antivirus software
    2. Install Microsoft Essential Security, Malwarebytes, Ad-aware, Advanced System Careand no  important malware found.
    3. netsh windsock reset catalog
    4. checking hardware drivers

    5.  system restore

    6.  sfc /scannow

    7.  Remove  Update KB  971033 from microsoft

    1. try to update windows update

    7.  use Hiren boot cd to start Mini Windows XP to delete files from this fiolder

          C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\WMI\RtBackup and let them to be re-created automatically.

    1. My next step to have it to be repaired installed

    But luckily, today I end up with deleting  all files from this folder

    c:\windows\system32\winevt\Logs  and the problem resolved.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-18T01:15:37+00:00

    Hey i am expericencing the same problem!

    Yesturday I noticed my internet wasnt working, so I restarted my computer and the "Failed to connect to a Windows service - Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification Service service" message showed up. it takes a lot longer than usual to turn my computer on, and a lot of programs arent working. My Norton antivirus will not work, my event log will not work, internet.

    I have tried a few things such as a system restore but it did not do anything. I have a Sony VGN-nw270d and its working on windows 7. I dont know to much about computers.

    Anyways, you said that if i delete that folder (c:\windows\system32\winevt\Logs) it will begin to work properly. I have found that folder but did not know the importance of the folder so I did not want to delete it until I made sure.

    What are all the files in the folder for? Will it cause other problems if I delete it?

    Please Help!!!

    thanks!

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-12-18T03:37:29+00:00

    The files in c:\windows\system32\winevt\Logs are the event logs data files. Deleting these files causing the event logs data missing but windows will re-create them all and the evet logs will back to normal operation. If you don't want to delete them please rename the whoile folder to other name and create the new folder instead.

    The problem is the files in this folder corrupted causing the Windows Event Logs Service stop and System Event Notification  Service  also.

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