Hi,
I have a Sony VAIO Laptop with Windows Vista Business (No Service
Pack.)

There are two separate (related?) problems:

1. I cannot access Network And Sharing Center. I tried the other fix
out there (add local service to admin group) and no luck. A little
digging and found that when I kill svchost.exe (controlling DCOM Server
Process and Plug and Play) I am able to access the Network and Sharing
Center. I looked at the sub-processes in that svchost through
ProcessExplorer and killed each on individually (except for the Intel
processes) and no luck. I have to kill the whole svchost.

2. Second problem is with Windows Installer. I tried unregistering it,
copying msiexec.exe from the dvd and re-registering it. I set the
Windows Installer Service to start automatically and was able to get it
to work long enough to install the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility to
remove any funky programs (google updater was installed twice.) But the
Installer is again not working. It is inconsistent at best.

No events in Event Viewer. I would rather not have to wipe out the PC.

Thanks,
Chuck


--
chuckm
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

It could be 3rd party software issue. For troubleshooting, start the Vista
with clean boot. This how to may help.
Windows general
How to run Windows OS with a clean boot · How to Run Windows Safe Mode
with Networking · How to setup DHCP for IP Phone How to sort programs in
Start ...
http://www.howtonetworking.com/Windo...owsgeneral.htm


--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"chuckm" wrote in message
...

Hi,
I have a Sony VAIO Laptop with Windows Vista Business (No Service
Pack.)

There are two separate (related?) problems:

1. I cannot access Network And Sharing Center. I tried the other fix
out there (add local service to admin group) and no luck. A little
digging and found that when I kill svchost.exe (controlling DCOM Server
Process and Plug and Play) I am able to access the Network and Sharing
Center. I looked at the sub-processes in that svchost through
ProcessExplorer and killed each on individually (except for the Intel
processes) and no luck. I have to kill the whole svchost.

2. Second problem is with Windows Installer. I tried unregistering it,
copying msiexec.exe from the dvd and re-registering it. I set the
Windows Installer Service to start automatically and was able to get it
to work long enough to install the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility to
remove any funky programs (google updater was installed twice.) But the
Installer is again not working. It is inconsistent at best.

No events in Event Viewer. I would rather not have to wipe out the PC.

Thanks,
Chuck


--
chuckm
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Thanks for the quick response.
I'm trying the clean boot to narrow down the problem. I'll update the
thread when I find it.
Thanks again.
Chuck


--
chuckm
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Hi,
The clean boot worked. I was trying to go service by service to
determine the cause but there are just too many. I told the laptop owner
to alert me if an application does not work correctly or the issue
reappears.
Thanks again.
Chuck


--
chuckm
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Thank you for update. Please let us what's the problem.

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"chuckm" wrote in message
...

Hi,
The clean boot worked. I was trying to go service by service to
determine the cause but there are just too many. I told the laptop owner
to alert me if an application does not work correctly or the issue
reappears.
Thanks again.
Chuck


--
chuckm
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com