Thanks Noel,
I tried once again by opening the services and restarting software licencing service. It is already set on Automatic. I changed to manual and back to automatic - Apply - restart service. I got a error message - "Windows could not start software licensing
service on local computer. Error - 1084"
The service did not start at all with respect to your query as to the duration before it stopped again.
I then went to the elevated command prompt window and ran the commands suggested by you. Following is the result -Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Tarun>net start slsvc
System error 5 has occurred.
Access is denied.
C:\Users\Tarun>
C:\Users\Tarun>sc qc slsvc
[SC] QueryServiceConfig SUCCESS
SERVICE_NAME: slsvc
TYPE : 10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
START_TYPE : 2 AUTO_START
ERROR_CONTROL : 1 NORMAL
BINARY_PATH_NAME : C:\Windows\system32\SLsvc.exe
LOAD_ORDER_GROUP : ProfSvc_Group
TAG : 0
DISPLAY_NAME : Software Licensing
DEPENDENCIES : RpcSs
SERVICE_START_NAME : NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService
C:\Users\Tarun>
C:\Users\Tarun>sc queryex slsvc
SERVICE_NAME: slsvc
TYPE : 10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
STATE : 1 STOPPED
WIN32_EXIT_CODE : -1073426166 (0xc004d10a)
SERVICE_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
CHECKPOINT : 0x0
WAIT_HINT : 0x0
PID : 0
FLAGS :
C:\Users\Tarun>
C:\Users\Tarun>sc qprivs slsvc
[SC] QueryServiceConfig2 SUCCESS
SERVICE_NAME: slsvc
PRIVILEGES : SeAuditPrivilege
: SeChangeNotifyPrivilege
: SeCreateGlobalPrivilege
: SeImpersonatePrivilege
C:\Users\Tarun>
C:\Users\Tarun>sc qsidtype slsvc
[SC] QueryServiceConfig2 SUCCESS
SERVICE_NAME: slsvc
SERVICE_SID_TYPE: UNRESTRICTED
C:\Users\Tarun>
C:\Users\Tarun>sc sdshow slsvc
D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCR
RC;;;IU)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;SU)
C:\Users\Tarun>
C:\Users\Tarun>
C:\Users\Tarun>
I also tried restoring the computer but still no luck. Would appreciate any other advice!!