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
    2015-12-29T08:45:30+00:00

    Hello,

    This simple solution worked for me:

    Creating a new account.

    That's all...

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-11T13:55:41+00:00

    Very interesting but I still think the problem is with MS and they are bull shitting us. Peter.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-11T12:22:06+00:00

    I setup a HP Desktop 550-111a last weekend 28/11/15 with windows 10 

    Setup restore point, and installed various programs WLM and Openoffice

    On the Monday , had a call - the PC reported a "Windows could not connect to the Group Policy Client service. This problem prevents standard users from logging on to the system." message

    I remotely looked at a couple of things and decided a restore maybe in order or repair 

    So Advised to Hold the Shift Key and Restart 

    As the PC shut down - it mentioned Updating 

    and so when the trouble shooting screen eventuality appeared - I decided just to continue to windows 

    And the PC worked fine 

    and has been used every day - upto the following saturday, when he got the same error message and symptoms

    So i decided to do the same restart Shift Key & Restart

    Then Continue 

    The PC restarted fine, no error message - so the Shift Key + restart , fixes something/

    I decided to look into the issue a bit further

    As updating had been mentioned last week, i thought I would start there 

    Indeed Windows update had failed

    and I noticed that the Windows defender had two entries for the 30th and also for yesterday.

    The Update also had a button for a retry 

    Which I did - and then the 1151 - 10586 threshold upgrade started to install

    I have allowed this to run and install - so all the issues maybe solved 

    I had to enable restore - as this appears to be off by default !!!!!!

    and also re-associate OpenOffice with MSfiles, as they went back to Office - which We had not installed !!!!

    EDIT

    Update - happened again this afternoon, 

    MS online via chat 

    Stopped all 3rd party services 

    Suggested a registry fix - that may help

    [url=http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-security/windows-8-group-policy-client-service-failed-sign/7ce8e193-6651-4f8f-b2c3-28de3d389b1a?auth=1]Windows 8, group policy client service failed sign in - Microsoft Community[/url]

    Although my working PC windows 10 - does not have the 2nd entry

    have not changed the registry - i guess will do next time around 

    well still not resolved 

    Had MS chat online and they changed the registry 

    I Noticed that the Group Policy Client "status" was "blank" 

    after MS had edited the registry , as per a couple of articles & videos - it showed "running" but after 18hrs its gone wrong again 

    this time when shutting down chrome the machine became unresponsive 

    WLM wont run - just hangs

    I have looked at remotely and the Service is now blank

    Restart the PC using Shift Restart and it works again 

    MS have now said - its not a windows issue and to return the PC to the OEM 

    basically they are not prepared to do anything 

    its only 10days old

    I have seen a couple of recent posts in other forums - with the same issue

    [url]http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-start/windows-could-not-connect-to-the-group-policy/e4567019-bd42-44e8-93cf-d6593bd1aa5d[/url]

    [url=http://windowanswers.com/windows-7/windows-couldn-t-connect-to-the-group-policy-client-service-221574.html]Windows couldn't connect to the group policy client service. - Windows Answers[/url]

    BUT 

    No resolution !!!!!

    I was planning to re-install from factory on Friday

    Update 

    just found an article about google chrome causing an issue 

    [url]https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chrome/qj07_IN4a7g[/url]

    cleared the cache and reset the browser

    When i went to About 

    Chrome tried to update and then failed and reported an error 

    So i uninstalled and re-installed - perhaps chrome is the issue ?

    Waited 85mins and service was stopped 

    the service has stopped running - But chrome & Windows live mail worked - whereas earlier they would not 

    we closed chrome and reopened 

    and now the service is running again

    and more importantly the PC is still running well

    11/12/15 12:00 

    Seems to have resolved the issue - been working 17hrs now and machine has been rebooted and switched on off a few times

    The GPC seems to stop and have a blank status – same on my PC

    Restarting chrome, makes the service status change to “running”

    So I suspect the corrupted chrome or bad version was unable to get the GPC or whatever starts that service from working

    Been working now , with no issue, and chrome is now able to start the GPC service (dont know how - but thats the observation)

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-12-09T15:40:49+00:00

    Hi

    I followed your instruction above and when I got to "Svchost" there is no sign of a folder called "apphost". If this should be there, how do I create it. I'm still having problems with Group Policy Client as from time to time, I cannot transfer between users. It looks as if it is running normally but from time to time it just stops for reasons unknown.

    Can anyone help please. Many Thanks to all who have contributed to this link, from the numbers having problems with the Group Policy Client, it appears to me that Microsoft need to get their act together and resole this once and for all.

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