RPC Server Unavailable - Comments

Very good example of sleuthing by comparison. The built in Windows registry FIND is cumbersome. Perhaps you could reference other software that searches the registry and gives a complete summary of all mentions of search term. The old jv16 registry tools did that.

I think that your solution is a good one but a simpler method especially for people less rill to risk hurting the rgistry might be, go to run type services.msc and go down to rpc and switch it on to automatic and start it up.

EDITOR'S NOTE: That wouldn't work (tried it). Because those reg keys were missing, RPC didn't even show up in the list.

Bob,
I'm having a similar problem as described in RPC Server Unavailable, only it lies with my printspooler. Somehow, after using a spyware checker to remove a problem trojan, my printspooler became hosed up and nothing I do seems to help. I can't print, add or delete printers. The error message says the spooler is turned off but when I look in the running services the spooler is running. I can start and stop the spooler but this has no effect on printing. When I try to print, the system says the spooler is not working. But when I go to services, it says the spoolerr is on. Doesn't matter whether I change the spooler to automatic or manual, same thing happens. I have searched thru every article regarding the WinXP printspooler on the MS Knowledgebase along with numerous internet searches. I've tried patches and fixes and nothing works. Ny next step is to reinstall the OS (heavens forbid!). Do you think exporting the registry settings from a system that works and importing into the broken system might work? Otherwise, I'm all out of ideas.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A registry export/import might work, but I would only do specific keys that deal with the spooler. Even so, that's a bit like brain surgery in the dark. You can re-install Windows without loosing your personal files, so that may be a better option.

I wish you had posted this, oh, six months ago. I took my desktop to a friend's house to update/finish installing Half-Life2; hooked up to his home network BEFORE firing up the machine, and that was all she wrote: wouldn't run more than 60 seconds before shutting itself down. I tried the RPC service activation as well, and had the same problems you found. I never was able to figure it out, and ended up yanking the old HD and installing a new one (had data I didn't want to lose on the old one). And none of my "computer-savvy" friends could offer any help, either.

Either way, good information, I hope I never have to use it! ;-)

In essence, I know nothing about computers [sure, a dabble] but I have good-to-great confidence in my ability to determine if I am being led around blindfolded by some one who knows their subject they are introducing to me, or someone who HAS to look good. I followed you wonderfully well: indeed, ignorance IS bliss, when it introduces me to a Great teacher. Thank you, John W W.

horqua... I just had a customer come in with a similar problem. The print spooler and RPCSS were reading as not working. Both were enabled and the latter was started. The issue turned out to be the printer's fault. The printer was a Lexmark, and the Lexmark printer server sevice was disabled in services. This prevented the spooler from working, which depends on the print server and the RPCSS. Enabling the print server service immediately resolved the entire issue.

My son thanks you very much for the help. Somehow he used XRAY-PC to hose the RPCSS entry in his registry which caused all kinds of problems. One point tho.
You recommend creating a restore point before messing with the registry. That won't work without RPC running (I think). I know my son could not do a system restore without RPC services running.

disco! Worked like a champ. thanks for the tip.

Isn't the best way to backup the registry to click on My Computer on the list go to file > export, type a name and select the white circle next to All? That's the way I always back up the registry.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, that will work fine. But you have to start the REGEDIT program first.

Thanks for the help, loading a new install of Media Center and when trying to run the CDs for tuner card and wireless card kept getting can't launch installer, RPC Server not found. Tried exporting the RpcSs from a working machine and it shows in the regedit, but still same problem when running the ATI installer. Any other thoughts?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Did you reboot? Does RPC Server show up in the Services list?