WLAN Autoconfig Service won't start automatically

[patchescaveman]

I wiped the stupid Windows 7 Starter that came with my netbook and installed Windows 7 Professional and ever since the WLAN Autoconfig Service refuses to start on boot despite it being set to Automatic. It also won't start manually either through "services.msc" or "net start". The only way I can start it is to run the troubleshooter and let it start WLAN Autoconfig, but half the time I get an error stating the troubleshooter failed to start, and I have to try multiple times or go into the Network and Sharing Center and run the troubleshooter as an administrator (which still sometimes gives the same error). I checked and made sure every service listed as a dependency for WLAN Autoconfig is set to automatic (I changed one from manual), which didn't help.

Tech Specs:
Asus Eee PC 1005HA-P
Windows 7 Professional (32-bit)
Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz
Atheros AR9285 Wireless NIC

 

[kegobeer]

What is the actual error number? Have you reviewed the error logs yet? Have you tried any of the solutions listed on google if you search for "wlan autoconfig service failed to start"?

 

[patchescaveman]

The error given by the troubleshooter is:

Package ID: Unknown
Path: C:\Windows\diagnostics\system\networking
Error Code: 0xC0000006
Source: Engine
User: <censored>
Context: Restricted

I'll look through the Event Log and see if I can find anything relevant.

 

[patchescaveman]

Here is the chronological sequence of event log entries related to WLAN Autoconfig on one particular boot of Windows. There appears to be no difference in error codes between startups, nor do any unrelated errors appear consistently.

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-WLAN-AutoConfig
Date: 2/22/2010 6:43:35 PM
Event ID: 4002
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer: glitchy
Description:
WLAN AutoConfig service has failed to start.

Error Code: 3221225478

Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-WLAN-AutoConfig" Guid="{9580D7DD-0379-4658-9870-D5BE7D52D6DE}" />
<EventID>4002</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x4000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-02-23T01:43:35.259087600Z" />
<EventRecordID>13147</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="892" ThreadID="1852" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>glitchy</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="ErrorCode">3221225478</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 2/22/2010 6:43:35 PM
Event ID: 7036
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: glitchy
Description:
The WLAN AutoConfig service entered the stopped state.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Service Control Manager" Guid="{555908d1-a6d7-4695-8e1e-26931d2012f4}" EventSourceName="Service Control Manager" />
<EventID Qualifiers="16384">7036</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8080000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-02-23T01:43:35.368287800Z" />
<EventRecordID>13149</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="568" ThreadID="668" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>glitchy</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="param1">WLAN AutoConfig</Data>
<Data Name="param2">stopped</Data>
<Binary>57006C0061006E007300760063002F0031000000</Binary>
</EventData>
</Event>

Log Name: System
Source: Service Control Manager
Date: 2/22/2010 6:43:35 PM
Event ID: 7023
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: glitchy
Description:
The WLAN AutoConfig service terminated with the following error:
%%-1073741818
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Service Control Manager" Guid="{555908d1-a6d7-4695-8e1e-26931d2012f4}" EventSourceName="Service Control Manager" />
<EventID Qualifiers="49152">7023</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8080000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-02-23T01:43:35.430687900Z" />
<EventRecordID>13150</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="568" ThreadID="668" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>glitchy</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="param1">WLAN AutoConfig</Data>
<Data Name="param2">%%-1073741818</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Google searches for those error codes bore no results.

Also, there were a bunch of DNS errors for things trying to access the Internet and a slew of services that stopped at the very end of the startup sequence because there were no working network adapters (e.g. Computer Browser, TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, etc.). I also didn't include the four or so Event Log entries generated by the troubleshooter. I can copy and paste any of those too, though, if you think they'll help.

 

[kegobeer]

Did you install the Asus Eee PC Windows 7 drivers that are available from the Asus website?

 

[patchescaveman]

Yes, although I believe there was an update from Atheros installed from Windows Update afterward, too. I had the same problem regardless, though.