Windows 8, group policy client service failed sign in

Anonymous
2012-12-25T13:27:15+00:00

Hello,

I'm running Windows 8 Professional, and in the last couple of days have experienced random errors trying to login.

Firstly, when I log in as a standard user, I get the message "Group policy client service failed sign in", and cannot login.  If I try to log in as Administrator I can log in but Windows recreates the profile from scratch and when I get to the start menu I have no apps displayed, and cannot find any programs via search.  This problem has happened twice now, and it seems to temporarily fix itself after rebooting, however this morning it took 4 reboots to fix.

I also get the error "Windows couldn't connect to the system event notification service", and again this seems to fix itself after a few reboots.

I have scanned my SDD on which the OS installed and there are no reported errors.

I am worried that on the next reboot the problem will revert and will not be fixable.  Please can you tell me how to fix this.

Kind regards,

Matthew

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

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Anonymous
2013-02-25T18:52:57+00:00

OK, guys, I already posted solution in other threads and it is for Windows 7. But, It looks like it is exactly the same issue, and a very wide-spread one - caused by crash during reboot initiated by Windows Update.  I am re-posting here.  If someone can test on Windows 8 would be great.  If you need my help let me know - I am actually very interested in testing it on Windows 8.

I had this issue on my laptop since November, and it really bugged me.  I sifted through the event log and found the pattern of events that preceded the issue, and, probably, caused it.

In short, the pattern is as follows: Windows updates run automatically as scheduled, and when reboot is initiated after the updates are finished, the computer crashes (probably during reboot sequence).  When it boots up, it reports that the last shutdown was unexpected, and the issue begins to occur.

I spent 2 days trying to dig out a solution from the Internet, to no avail, until I came across this page.  It doesn't say anything about this particular problem, but it gives more information about SVCHOST process that starts many services, including Group Policy Client.  It looks like during reboot a vital registry settings were lost during crash and Group Policy Client "doesn't know" how to start.  Let me explain:

There are two places to look in the registry:

  1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services this path should contain gpsvc key (a folder), which is responsible for service parameters and configuration.  I found that the key was intact, so, you do not touch anything here - just check that the key exists.
  2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SVCHOST This is the most important path you should look into, as it must contain the keys and values referred in the key #1.  Below are descriptions what must be present there.
  • There must be Multi-String value called GPSvcGroup. My laptop was missing it.  So, you should create multi-string value named GPSvcGroup and assign it value GPSvc.
  • Next, you must create a key (a folder) and name it GPSvcGroup - this key normally should be there, but, again, it was missin on my laptop.
  • Then open newly-created GPSvcGroup folder and create 2 DWORD values:
  1. First called AuthenticationCapabilities and you must give it a value of 0x00003020 (or 12320 in decimal)
  2. Second is called CoInitializeSecurityParam and it must have value of 1.

Once you complete all steps above, reboot the computer and the problem will be fixed.

Here is the link to the video walkthrough if you have any troubles understanding what has to be done:http://youtu.be/4m5KEmckWK4

http://youtu.be/4m5KEmckWK4

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-13T19:24:51+00:00

    Unfortunately I connect run regedit !!

    I believe a Windows 8.1 update was interrupted..,

    Now I cannot even run regedit to fix the issue.

    I get this error:

    "PS C:\Windows> regedit

    Program 'regedit.exe' failed to run: The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashionAt"

    I also cannot run Windows Update to attempt a re-install.

    Help !!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-12T07:04:07+00:00

    Hi Ratandeep,

    Hi I followed the steps from the video for win 8,  PLX's and put in the correct keys etc and it worked. Four days later the pop up notice is back. I get one pop up the goes in a couple of seconds then another that stays. I have checked and all reg keys are still in place. Even tried changing the spelling to (CoinitializeSecurityParam & CoinitializeSecurityAllowLowBox). It's now now back to Colnitialize  etc. I am logged in as the administrator. I have the same issue as Chris August 5 2014, and don't quite follow the solution. 1/  Is the built in Administrator different to being administrator in User accounts? 2/ Exactly how do I Invoke the Administrator user and force a restart? I have read every post but might have missed something, any other suggestions are welcomed.

    Thank you in advance for any help

    Ivan

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-04T22:21:18+00:00

    I have Windows 8.1 and had the exact same Group Policy Client problem. 

    I did exactly what Bradsere did above.  Went through PLX's second video (for Windows 8) and found the same issue - "CoInitialize..." instead of "Coinitialize...".  Deleted the old DWORD values and put in the correct ones.

    However that still didnt solve the problem (but I think it did help eventually).  Then I went back over the discussion Ratandeep and ChrisGoodhew were having from Aug 2014 on this same thread and checked the items suggested by Ratandeep.  Figured while looking at Dependencies for the Group Policy Client that Mup.sys was probably corrupt or not running.  Did a google search and found a way to replace the file (devilishly difficult because Mup.sys error essentially messes up your browsers as well).

    Rebooted and then it all seems to running well now.

    Sincere thanks to all of you! Life savers!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-08-29T12:00:56+00:00

    It worked for me in Windows 10. It happened twice and was fixed by applying P.L.X registry fix.

    But one thing that I would like to explicitly mention here is that  there is no such entry in one of my other PCs running Windows 10 and working normally i.e. Group Policy Client Service is also working. I searched that PC for the keys mentioned in his post. Found the following:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services this path should contain gpsvc key (a folder)

    gpsvc folder was there.

    But the keys which he asked to add were missing in that normal PC.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SVCHOST.....

    this particular location does not contain the multi string value called GPSvcGroup. ****

    Still that PC is running Group Policy Client Service.

    So I wonder what might be the real cause? I am talking about Windows 10 because never ever had that issue in any of the previous versions of windows I have used so far.

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