Really need some help! Vista 64 issue

nin9abadga

nin9abadga

nin9abadga

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Hi chaps

If anyone can help or at least suggest me a way forward then it would be appreciated. I've tried MS support but got nowhere! Beware, this may be along post - here's the problem in a nutshell:

I have had Windows Vista Home Premium (64 bit version) since September last year (fully activated and legit copy - I still have the receipt!) but in the last 2 weeks I have begun to experience problems.

They first came to light when I tried to open Control Panel to alter some settings - the control panel window would open but then immediately close, however i can still access the various functional components via the explorer window.

Subsequently, i began to get messages that defender had failed to update it's definitions, I tried manually but it still failed, so I just left it and carried on, as I was getting no adverse effects in terms of normal PC operation (it's a gaming rig and gaming is unaffected).

I have since tried to use windows update with no joy, (fails to connect detailed error messages below) so I was a bit concerned and so started to look into the issue further, and since discovered that the vista games do not work - for example, mah jong, spider solitare etc - non of them start.

the real catalyst for me to sort this out was 2 days ago when my pc suddenly told me that my copy of vista was not genuine and turned itself off. however, after a reboot i was able to get back in without the activation message appearing. however, my PC now informs me that my copy of Windows is not activated even though it was activated back in Sept 07 (I have not installed any new hardware in my system).

The last windows update for me was on the 25/10/08 (that was the last time it checked), since that point I have installed:
AVG Version 8
Fallout 3
Nvidia Drivers (for my 8800 GTX - dated 07/10/2008, 7.15.11.7824)
Far Cry 2

I have been having these problems for a week or 2 now but they are starting to worry me. My limited research has highlighed a number of potential services that might not be working, however I am unable to start them and do not really know where to begin.

here are the errors I'm getting:

WINDOWS UPDATE
Windows could not search for new updates
Error(s) found:
Code 80070426 Windows Update encountered and unknown error.

WINDOWS ACTIVATION
Windows Activation Error
A problem occurred when Windows tried to activated. Error Code 0x80070426

The last error occurs when I attempt to start the Software Licensing Service which, for some reason, has stopped working on my system. I try to start it manually and get the following error:

Windows could not start the Software Licensing service on Local Computer.
Error 3: the system cannot find the path specified.

So in a nutshell this is my current issue, any help you can give me will be much appreciated.

My systems specs:
intel quad core Q6600 (not OC'd)
4Gb Ram
64 bit Vista Home Premium
Nvidia 8800 GTX


^^ That's basically a copy of the email I sent to MS. I've searched on the error code and google suggests that the activation service has gone down (because it's running in restricted mode??) but the solutions that are suggested involve starting services that refuse to start - they either can't find the path specified or come up with the error above. I've tried re-installing SP1 but it won't install because it's already installed. I can't reactivate windows because it throws up an activation error (can't connect to the service) however I have no other issue with an invalid product (i.e. it starts!).

Short of a clean install, does anyone have any idea what's going on and why? and more importantly how I fix it?

I'd even appreciate a sympathy post telling me to get lost or that you have no idea :p
 
To be honest it sounds like a hardware problem, perhaps a failing disk or ram that's gone bad (although, when I had a stick of ram go bad I couldn't even boot vista x64).

Download the Ultimate Boot CD (google it), boot up with it and do some very comprehensive hardware tests (HD first, then MemTest86+ then some of the CPU ones - memtest should be left to run for a minimum of 6-12 hours).
 
Ahh m8 that's sounds proper guttin,You could also try downloading "orthos" and do a few stress tests with that,This way you can test the cpu and ram at the same time.

I'll have a look around and see if i can dig anything else up on your problem and repost soon.
 
Go to System -> Change Product Key and type in your product key again. See if that helps mate.
 
ticktock said:
Format.
Click to expand...
I would tend to agree. It sounds that the installation is so corrupt that a clean install is the only way forward. If the issues persist after a format then it is time to start looking at hardware. It may be worth your while to buy Acronis True Image and take an image of your system after re-installation. That way you can restore quickly and painlessly if you need to.
 
It sounds like a 'Software Licensing' problem. Stop the service and then restart it should give you a short term solution.

If you don't know how to do this then click 'Start' and type 'Services.msc' in run/search. Normally you get to the services window via the control panel - administrative tools - Services.

Find the service called 'Software Licensing', double click it and then click 'Stop' once windows has stopped the service click on 'Restart' to start it again.

You should now be able to update windows and get into the control panel.

Make sure you have Sp1 installed and are fully updated. If you have there are known issue with 'Software Licensing' and Nero, I would uninstall and reinstall SP1 and see how it goes.

Good Luck
 
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JackRegan said:
It sounds like a 'Software Licensing' problem. Stop the service and then restart it should give you a short term solution.

If you don't know how to do this then click 'Start' and type 'Services.msc' in run/search. Normally you get to the services window via the control panel - administrative tools - Services.

Find the service called 'Software Licensing', double click it and then click 'Stop' once windows has stopped the service click on 'Restart' to start it again.

You should now be able to update windows and get into the control panel.

Make sure you have Sp1 installed and are fully updated. If you have there are known issue with 'Software Licensing' and Nero, I would uninstall and reinstall SP1 and see how it goes.

Good Luck
Click to expand...

Sounds like the best idea to me.

Also i did some digging around and i found a few peeps was having the same problem,I came accross this in another forum:

""Ok I had the same problem. What I did was change all the system32 contents to read/write so I could add a System.mdw file for an older version of Access. Afterwards I set all the contents back to read only, which cause the above listed problems. I didn't notice it right away, until a few weeks later I couldn't open pictures or the control panel. Then I found out my Windows installation was "un-genuine". Which came from the same problem.

By selecting the main System32 folder and making it read/write, Windows reset those folders back to their initial read/write status and everything now works fine. Use this advice at your own risk, all I claim is it worked for me""

and another person said:

""All you have to do is to go to C:\windows\, right click system32 folder and clear the read only chech box. It will work""

From what everyone was saying this was a strange solution but it worked for everyone.

Hope this helps m8 :)
 
thanks for all the input guys, really appreciate it :)

I've tried to restart the software licensing service (for some reason it's stopped) but it won't start, throws up the "error 3 the system cannot find the path specified". I've also tried the read only option, no joy there either :(

will keep trying something might come up!

edit: just noticed this - the path to the executable has disappeared, is it possible to add this anywhere?

 
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