Error msg: "Failed to connect to a windows service"

[HenriK37]

About a week ago, I started seeing the error message: "Failed to connect to a windows service" and began experiencing slow start ups. In a subsequent error message, the service is identified as "System event notification service". In addition and on shut down, I usually see "Waiting for Explorer" so I simply proceed to shut the PC down. Yes, I am fully aware that Win 7 MS support is now discontinued.

The PC in question is my 64 bit Dell Optiplex 780, running 64 bit Win 7 Pro, fully updated. I also use Kaspersky Internet Security as my anti-virus software.

The only thing I can connect the problem to is that Edge-Dev has been running on the machine for some months and about the time the error message began appearing, Edge seems to have gone 'live' although Edge is not the browser I usually use or have marked as primary. Am I all wet in wondering if this could be an Edge problem?

Regardless, I would appreciate any and all advice and suggestions on how the problem originated and how to get rid of it and extend my thanks, in advance, for any assistance. For what it is worth, I am struggling to come to grips with Win 10 Pro on another PC which, so far, is operating in an off-line mode, so do not regard Win 10 as a suitable way to solve the Win 7 problem.

 

[wither 2]

Hi HenriK37-

I would reset winsock as described here-

FIX: Failed to connect to a Windows service in Windows 10

The only change I would make to the instructions is to right click on the Command Prompt and select "Run as Administrator" before continuing.

 

[file3456]

It sounds like a service is having a hard time starting. To hopefully help find what service that may be, go to the control panel | administrative tools | services. Now click the status tab at the top once or twice until you see a status of a service that may say "starting." That will more than likely be your service that is the problem. If you see this, post it's name here.

Or look for services in the list that say failed to start as well.

If it is a service related to Edge, and if you're not using Edge, then use RevoUninstaller and uninstall Edge and that may just remove the problematic service. If you do find the problematic service and can't remove it, and that's if it's not a critical core Windows service, I can tell you how to forcefully remove it.

Revo Uninstaller Free - Remove unwanted programs easily

 

[file3456]

Oops! Rereading your post the service is actually System event notification service.

Okay, do as I say and look for a status for services that say "starting". That service that says starting may be related to why the System event notification service isn't starting.

Edit-

Something else you can try. Right click the task bar at the bottom and select "Start Task Manager."

Now in Task Manager select Resource Monitor. In Resource Monitor select the services drop down tab. Now sort the services by status and find any that say starting and post its name. See screenshot.