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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

69 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-08-09T18:30:27+00:00

    Hi Somkiat,

    Good day.

    I have tried all the solution which have been explained by all the earlier users but its still not working.

    I am using a HP Probook 6450b on Core i5 os: Win 7 ultimate 64bit.

    My finger print aut, sound, internet and many other apps and functions are not working. I do get the notification "Failed to connect to a windows service" message and when i click to troubleshoot my internet connections it showed

    Problems Found

    Windows could not automatically detect this network's proxy settings.

    My internet provider is all fine as i am sending this message using my other laptop on the same internet connection used via wifi.

    Can this be due to a virus attack?

    I had also got a notification prior to this stating that windows is unable to perform an update automatically....

    I am just exhausted and really in need of your hand in resolving this problem...

    ADAMM

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-03-13T06:44:17+00:00

    Thanks for the reply, yes i had to do a clean reinstall. but not sure what the cause was. thanks for the help.

    Jesus

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-03-13T04:34:38+00:00

    Hi John

      I think the problem you getting now may different from the original post. Clean installing the machine would be the good solution if you don;t want to waste any mote time. Anyway, if you still  want to know "What's happening to my machine"  I'm willing to hep you solve the problem.

    Cheer!

    Somkiat R.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-03-11T03:04:05+00:00

    Hey Somkiat,

      I tried deleting the event folder but my computer still gives me the message that if fails to connect to the windows service, and the "Group policy client service". Additionally, the computer wont let me run anything as the administrator even though i am the admin., nor let me connect to the internet or use my antivirus. any suggestions?

    OS: Win 7

    v/r

    Jesus

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments