[burnabridge]

I dug around quite a bit... I really hope this hasn't already been a thread...

"Failed to connect to a windows service.
Windows could not connect to the System Event Notification Service service. This problem prevents limited users from logging on to the system. As an administrative user, you can review the System Event Log for details about why the service didn't respond."

This message comes with slow start up and shut downs that occasionally freeze. Another strange symptom is that sometimes (about every other time I boot up the computer) it loses the shiny-black Vista theme. Not so much a concern of aesthetic and more a note of wonkiness.

The laptop was sluggish recently and I was doing some cleaning: defrags, registry cleaning, virus/spyware scans, etc. I... have a theory my sweep with CCleaner may have done something it really shouldn't have. I'm unsure what to do about this if it is true though, because although I didn't delete them, all my restore points are gone. I also recently changed the virtual memory size, if that is relevant.

Also uncertain of relevancy, but the worst of it (Service message) began while I was toying around between Pidgin and Trillian. Trillian crashed... something. There are so many event logs now that I'm not able to figure out what it was

I'm really not as familiar with the workings of this computer as I wish I was, I'm really not certain about how to diagnos a problem from what I see I've also never really gone to a tech forum before: if you need more info you'll probably have to tell me how/where to get it.

It is an Inspiron 1525 with Windows Vista Home Premium 32, post SP-1/2, 1014 MB RAM and a 136 GB HDD. Also running AVG, Window's Defender is down, Firewall is on.

[Rollin' Rog]

It sounds like a lot is going on. Have you tried a System Restore first, and then possibly sfc /scannow if that doesn't work

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...8b3551033.mspx

"Startup repair" is also an option.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...torial148.html


Are you continuing to get the System Event Notification error after a reboot?


Are there any problems in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or in a "Clean Boot"? >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

[burnabridge]

Thank you for replying!

My initial reaction was a system restore, but all my restore points had disappeared. I was very careful *not* to delete them while cleaning up the computer, so I am uncertain what happened there.

I also did a sfc /scannow yesterday, it said there were errors but couldn't fix all of them. I am unfamiliar with the scan, if there is more I could have done with it, or information I should have gleaned from it etc

Today, I put in my Vista disc for Startup Repair, but that didn't change anything either.

The message appears with every start up, safe/clean etc.

As a side note, the computer has stopped recognizing AVG as virus protection within the security center.

[Rollin' Rog]

Can you test to see if you have the "conflicker" worm?

Can you visit AVG to reinstall it or any major antivirus site?

You may need to find a removal tool; from a site not blocked.if you have it.

http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4...?tag=mncol;txt

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/com...icker.mspx#ETE

[burnabridge]

Mmm, did the tests, read up about the worm. I didn't have the update that was specific to it, installed that. That seemed to do a great deal for slowness involved in the shutdown.

However, it was uninstalling AVG that solved the issue with the notification and also slow start up.

So! Uh XD Thank you for helping me out, I learned a few things about looking at the signs the computer is giving me

[Rollin' Rog]

Glad you got it worked out, I had a feeling that the message was related to a blocked or damaged antivirus -- That's one of the actions of some of these worms -- but other symptoms did not quite fit since the conflicker worm actually disables event log notifications as I understand it.