I can't find my Server service in Windows 2000 Pro

[Muse]

When I go into Control Panel / Adminstrative Tools / Computer Management / System Tools / Shared Folders and click on Shares, I get an error message: Error 2114 The Server service is not started.

When I go into my services I can't find the Server service! I have made some tweaks in services, disabling a few, making some Automatic ones Manual, but what could make the Server service go away??? I'm trying to set up a LAN on two Windows 2000 Pro machines connected to my broadband router.

 

[prosaic]

Not knowing the exact history of the system can make this sort of problem hard to troubleshoot.

Did you keep track of the "tweaks" you made in services? Since you're in to tweaking have you also done stuff like turning of Windows File Protection? What SP level is the installation at? Did you install networking components after installing the last SP? Normally that shouldn't be a problem, unless you've disabled WFP. It sounds as though you might have deleted / disabled the Server service.

Those questions are off the top of my head, based on way too little information to make an informed start on a diagnosis. There are issues with PagedPoolSize and NullSessionPipes which can cause Server to fail to start, too, but those are kind of arcane. I've only see those under NT 4.0.

Other things to check:

- that the NIC on the affected workstation (You don't have this problem on both workstations, do you?) is shown to be functioning correctly in Device Manager (If the device isn't loading properly I don't think Server will load. But I don't think this is your problem since you seem to be missing the service altogether.)

- list errors you find in the Event Viewer (There could easily be a clue here. Check both the Applications AND the System logs.)

- find the SRV.SYS file in your system32 folder and determine that the version number is appropriate for your service pack level

You may be able to fix the problem by running the System File Checker or by doing a repair installation. Unless your installation source is slipstreamed, you'll have to run your latest service pack installation following a repair install. Note that it's important for you to have Windows File Protection up and running if you want any of this stuff to work right.

- prosaic

 

[ugh]

Have you recently applied a service pack on that PC?

 

[spiridion]

try enabling file and print sharing. this usually starts the server service.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: ugh
Have you recently applied a service pack on that PC?

Truthfully, I'm on the verge of doing a fresh install of Win2000 on this machine. It has other issues that have proven too formidable for me to deal with. I'd have done it already were it not for the close to 100 programs installed. It'll be a fair amount of work and it's the preparation that's daunting - just backing everything up, making sure I know what I have to do after I reformat the Win2000 partition. The reasons I say this are that my boot times went from around 2:10 to from 4 to 6 or more minutes when I installed SP3, so I Ghosted back my SP2 (I was smart enough to Ghost before applying SP3). Also, Visual Studio .NET errors on the system, so a clean install of Win2000 is in order, after which I will do an immediate update to SP3. I imagine my services will be fine at that point! Looks like I might HAVE to do this before I can get my LAN up and running in terms of shares.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: spiridion
try enabling file and print sharing. this usually starts the server service.

Where do I enable file and print sharing? Interestingly it looks like "Networking" is not installed on this machine. When I look at Networking it says "You must install Networking before you can change this computer's domain membership." There is no domain name but there is a workgroup name but all that is greyed out. Would I have to reinstall from the Win2000 CD to install Networking? I looked in Add/Remove programs what they had for installing Windows components, but I didn't see Networking, per se... just a couple of fluffy looking features that take around 100 kb. I think I better get on the stick with my reformat of my Win2000 partition. My last install was around last March. I'm overdue.

 

[spiridion]

for file and print sharing...

right click my network places(desktop)
click on properties
this will bing up network and dial-up connections
right click the "local area connection"
click on properties.

the window that pops up should have have a list of services, protocols, and clients installed.
if file and printer sharing is not in the white box you need to install it.

click install->service->file and printer sharing.

after install make sure there is a check in the box next to file and printer sharing.

this should start the server service

 

[Sunner]

What happens if you bring up a command prompt(smd) and type "net start server" or "net stop server"?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Sunner
What happens if you bring up a command prompt(smd) and type "net start server" or "net stop server"?

You mean (cmd), right? It responds: The service name is invalid.

Asking for further command prompt help with NET I get: You tried to start a service that is not configured on this system. I'm going to try Spiridion's procedures...

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: spiridion
for file and print sharing...

right click my network places(desktop)
click on properties
this will bing up network and dial-up connections
right click the "local area connection"
click on properties.

the window that pops up should have have a list of services, protocols, and clients installed.
if file and printer sharing is not in the white box you need to install it.

click install->service->file and printer sharing.

after install make sure there is a check in the box next to file and printer sharing.

this should start the server service

Yes, this worked exactly as described. I didn't even have to supply the Win2000 CD, which surprised me. It didn't say I had to reboot either. And the Server service is shown in my Win2000 Services now, starting automatically. Thanks!

Now I'm going to try to set up my LAN so I can share files. I got this link yesterday from my router's tech support for info on setting up my network sharing. I've seen and done some of this stuff in NT 4, but it's been a while. Now I wish I'd bought those Win2000 books I was thinking of getting.... For some reason I'm unable to print that page. It's 4 pages. The first one prints OK, sorta, the 2nd page stops is blank after about the first 25%, and the 3rd one I get an error:

ERROR: ioerror
OFFENDING COMMAND: image

STACK:

-dictionary-

If I don't stop the printer it repeats the pages! I just set up my printer on my router's printer server feature, and maybe that's related, or it could be my printer configuration or a problem at that website. Could someone try to print that and let me know if it prints for them??? Thanks.

 

[Muse]

I printed from my other computer, same error. Another page at the same site - www.wown.info/ gives the same error. I think it may be a problem with either my printer server or printer (HP4M) or configuration of either.

Edit: I think it's a problem with my router's print server feature. That's a PostScript printing error, but it only happens when I print from my networked printer. When set up as a local printer, it prints OK. Maybe that's why my printer wasn't on a list of supported printers at D-Link's website for the DI-704p router.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Muse
I printed from my other computer, same error. Another page at the same site - www.wown.info/ gives the same error. I think it may be a problem with either my printer server or printer (HP4M) or configuration of either.

Edit: I think it's a problem with my router's print server feature. That's a PostScript printing error, but it only happens when I print from my networked printer. When set up as a local printer, it prints OK. Maybe that's why my printer wasn't on a list of supported printers at D-Link's website for the DI-704p router.

Since you're working on file sharing, why not attach the printer locally to that machine and then share the printer?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Muse
I printed from my other computer, same error. Another page at the same site - www.wown.info/ gives the same error. I think it may be a problem with either my printer server or printer (HP4M) or configuration of either.

Edit: I think it's a problem with my router's print server feature. That's a PostScript printing error, but it only happens when I print from my networked printer. When set up as a local printer, it prints OK. Maybe that's why my printer wasn't on a list of supported printers at D-Link's website for the DI-704p router.

Since you're working on file sharing, why not attach the printer locally to that machine and then share the printer?

Just the fact that I'll often if not usually want to be using one machine and have the other shut down. I'll have to monitor the situation. If I only get printing errors rarely I can probably live with that and in those cases, move the parallel cable from the router. Unless the problem proves a fluke I will continue to research - I got hits on the error messages at google and I haven't gone to HP's website to see if I can maybe get some tech support for the problem, maybe an alternative driver or some other means of resolving this.

I probably will set up a printer share but have it connected to the router - it all depends on how serious a problem it proves. I don't print a heck of a lot, so it may be quite a while before I'm clear on the extent (and nature of) the problem. I tried switching from the Postscript driver to the PCL driver, but there was still a problem... it just looked a little different - different error messages. I switched back to the PS printer. That PS cartridge cost me around $300 and I've found that printing characteristics are a lot better, as long as there aren't errors.