Missing "Security Center" Service

[rider]

Lately, I 've been pelted by viruses and Trojan horses coming in through the
IE active scripting hole. I have made the proper adjustments to my security
zones and cleaned my hard drive of the troublesome hardware.

Alas, a few problems remain. One in particular occurs in the Security
Center. Under the Security Essentials section is the statement:

The Security Center is currently unavailable because the "Security

Center" service has not started or was stopped. Please close this window,
restart the computer (or start the "Security Center" service), and then open
the Security Center again.<
Upon opening Services, I do not find Security Center.

Almost all the solutions I am finding via an Internet search, detail
starting the Security Center service. None address a missing service.

Interestingly, if I click on Help>Help Topics, I am taken to the Help file
for Microsoft Management Console. Here, under the Contents tab, I chose
Services>Concepts> Display defaults for services. A list of services is
provided, and Security Center is not among them.

OS: Windows XP SP2 fully upgraded, running with Norton Anti-Virus 2005

Any guidance in resolving this problem would be appreciated.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi rider,

If you have access to another working Windows XP SP2 system, export the
following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc

Then merge the key in your system.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Lately, I 've been pelted by viruses and Trojan horses coming in through the
IE active scripting hole. I have made the proper adjustments to my security
zones and cleaned my hard drive of the troublesome hardware.

Alas, a few problems remain. One in particular occurs in the Security
Center. Under the Security Essentials section is the statement:

The Security Center is currently unavailable because the "Security

Center" service has not started or was stopped. Please close this window,
restart the computer (or start the "Security Center" service), and then open
the Security Center again.<
Upon opening Services, I do not find Security Center.

Almost all the solutions I am finding via an Internet search, detail
starting the Security Center service. None address a missing service.

Interestingly, if I click on Help>Help Topics, I am taken to the Help file
for Microsoft Management Console. Here, under the Contents tab, I chose
Services>Concepts> Display defaults for services. A list of services is
provided, and Security Center is not among them.

OS: Windows XP SP2 fully upgraded, running with Norton Anti-Virus 2005

Any guidance in resolving this problem would be appreciated.

 

[rider]

Hi rider,

If you have access to another working Windows XP SP2 system, export the
following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc

Then merge the key in your system.

Thank you for the reply. Your web site is very helpful. I stumbled upon it
in my searches last evening.

I do not have ready access to another XP machine. That key does exist in my
registry. I found the 'wscsvc.reg' file offered at your website. And I found
a similiar file, 'securitycenterrestore.reg', at
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm; line 338, right hand column.

A quick comparision of these two files reveals a difference in at least one
registry key:
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc.
'wscsvc.reg' values the DWORD start as 3 while 'securitycenterrestore.reg'
values the DWORD as 2. I have no idea as to the possible significance.

This evening, when I have a bit more time, I'll try each on my system in the
hope of finding a resolution. I will post back.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

The "Start" value denotes the service start_type status. It it's set to 2,
it means that the service is set to automatically start. 3 denotes disabled
state.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Hi rider,

If you have access to another working Windows XP SP2 system, export the
following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc

Then merge the key in your system.

Thank you for the reply. Your web site is very helpful. I stumbled upon it
in my searches last evening.

I do not have ready access to another XP machine. That key does exist in my
registry. I found the 'wscsvc.reg' file offered at your website. And I found
a similiar file, 'securitycenterrestore.reg', at
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm; line 338, right hand column.

A quick comparision of these two files reveals a difference in at least one
registry key:
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc.
'wscsvc.reg' values the DWORD start as 3 while 'securitycenterrestore.reg'
values the DWORD as 2. I have no idea as to the possible significance.

This evening, when I have a bit more time, I'll try each on my system in the
hope of finding a resolution. I will post back.

 

[rider]

The security center has been restored. Unfortunately, I was not meticulous
enough about my procedures to say exactly what worked.

I started by merging the registry file 'wscsvc.reg'. No change. So I merged
the registry file "servicecenterrestore.reg'. Still no change. After more
than a few minutes of head scratching, it occurred to me to restart Windows.
And there it was... Security Center located in Services. A simple start and
everything has been running fine since.

Thanks again for your help.

Hi rider,

If you have access to another working Windows XP SP2 system, export the
following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc

Then merge the key in your system.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Lately, I 've been pelted by viruses and Trojan horses coming in through
the
IE active scripting hole. I have made the proper adjustments to my
security
zones and cleaned my hard drive of the troublesome hardware.

Alas, a few problems remain. One in particular occurs in the Security
Center. Under the Security Essentials section is the statement:

The Security Center is currently unavailable because the "Security

Center" service has not started or was stopped. Please close this window,
restart the computer (or start the "Security Center" service), and then
open
the Security Center again.<
Upon opening Services, I do not find Security Center.

Almost all the solutions I am finding via an Internet search, detail
starting the Security Center service. None address a missing service.

Interestingly, if I click on Help>Help Topics, I am taken to the Help file
for Microsoft Management Console. Here, under the Contents tab, I chose
Services>Concepts> Display defaults for services. A list of services is
provided, and Security Center is not among them.

OS: Windows XP SP2 fully upgraded, running with Norton Anti-Virus 2005

Any guidance in resolving this problem would be appreciated.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome rider.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


The security center has been restored. Unfortunately, I was not meticulous
enough about my procedures to say exactly what worked.

I started by merging the registry file 'wscsvc.reg'. No change. So I merged
the registry file "servicecenterrestore.reg'. Still no change. After more
than a few minutes of head scratching, it occurred to me to restart Windows.
And there it was... Security Center located in Services. A simple start and
everything has been running fine since.

Thanks again for your help.