XP Automatic Services not Starting

[viperbri]

Geez..another strange one for me here...I need some help solving this one.

XP SP2 system ...when I reboot the computer there are a good handful of services that are not starting up even though they are set to Automatic. For example Automatic Updates, System Restore, Computer Browser, DHCP Client, Distributed Link Tracking Service, Cryptographic Services, Secondary Logon...

I checked the Event Logs and it does not show one error....

I have to go to each Service and start them myself (they start without a problem).

Any ideas?

 

[KGB]

Viruses? Malware? Spyware?

What are you running to prevent these?

 

[viperbri]

Running EZ-Trust Antivirus, scanned with Housecall online, scanned with Ad-Aware...all clean..I just remove the Firewall that came with EZ-Trust (actually is Zone Alarm) just to see if that was causing the problems.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Did you tweak your services or does someone else have access to your system that may have? You can selectively disable services from starting in the Services tab of MSCONFIG. This will supercede the startup settings for the services. Check the tab and make sure nothing is unchecked.

I doubt it's spyware, since I've NEVER seen spyware disable services like that. However here's my detailed spyware removal instructions. Worth a try: http://theflyingpenguin.com/spyware-removal.shtml

Is there a particular date that this started happening? If so, you could use System Restore to take the system back to a restore point before the problem occured. NOTE: You should go back to a restore point AT LEAST ONE WEEK prior to the problem occuring. Do to the way System Restore works, it's not advisable to go back just a day before. It may not help. Too complicated to explain here - just trust me.

Hope this helps...

 

[viperbri]

Aha...I will try the MSCONFIG route and ask my friend (whos computer it is) if someone was doing some tweaking on it. If that doesn't work I will try the system restore issue.

I will keep you posted...thanks for the ideas.

 

[viperbri]

Well...still no luck on this one...unless anyone has any more suggestions I think I may have to resort to the reformat/reinstall route...ugh...he has a lot of programs I have to reinstall

 

[nweaver]

if a service is set to "Automatic" it will only start if something calls for it (such as program A needs service B, B won't start until A needs it.) Change the service to "On" and see if it works on reboot.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: nweaver
if a service is set to "Automatic" it will only start if something calls for it (such as program A needs service B, B won't start until A needs it.) Change the service to "On" and see if it works on reboot.

That's "manual" that start only when called. "Automatic" do indeed start automatically. There is no "On" setting.

The fact that there are no events is really really odd. It will definately log an event if a service fails to start and automatic services are definately trying. Double check your log settings to be sure you aren't full. Set them at 16mb each (app, system, security) and allow them to overwrite as needed. Do a reboot then check the system event log again.

You should definately have an event id 6005 ("event log service is starting") each and every boot. You should also see a whole series of events from the service control manager. Post again if you're not seeing these.