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
    2016-01-20T17:17:34+00:00

    Thank you so much for this video! I ignored this error message for about 6 months as I assumed it was too complicated for someone with very little computer knowledge to fix! But I followed your video step by step and after rebooting, the error message has gone, and when I check services it says the Group Policy Client thing is running! However, the problem started when I had Windows 8, and then I upgraded to Windows 10. The problem was still there. Perhaps this is why for me, there was a slight difference. When you instructed us to add in 'gpsvc', mine was already there. But the first bit,  'AeLookupSvc' (If I remember the name right!) was missing, so I added that in. That was the only thing I did throughout the whole video, so that must have done something!

    Thank you! :)

    Have a nice day!

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-20T17:59:20+00:00

    Tried this on a Windows10 machine and the solution also works.  Thanks !!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-22T18:42:57+00:00

    On Windows 8.1, the Group Policy Client (gpsvc) has moved to a different SVCHOST grouping.   On my Win8.1 machine, I found "GPSvc" listed in that same key, however under 'NetSvcs'

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost

    netvcs = "... gpsvc ..."

    But when I try to start the service when logged in as an Administrator, I get an error. 

    Running the following in a command prompt:

      c:> net start gpsvc

    Fails with:

    System error 5 has occurred.

    Access is denied.

    I am still searching for a solution to this problem.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-24T13:55:00+00:00

    Hello,

    I just wanted to state that this fix works for Windows 10 as well.  I too had the error Group Policy Client Service failed to connect.  I made the described adjustments and the error was resolved.

    Additionally, this error seemed to prevent Remote Desktop Connection from functioning properly.  Its functionality was restored after the fix.

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