slsvc service won't start - error code 5

Question

I've Windows Vista SP2. My problem is that Windows Update does not work. I found that slsvc (software licensing service) is disabled on my computer. When I tried to restart it, I got the error message Error 5. Access Denied.

I don't know what to do. Restoring the system is probably impossible.

The sfc /scannow command returned log is available here - tymonradzik.cba.pl/CBS.zip (you have to enter that manually to URL Field) - for download.

Some lines from the log:

2014-02-11 22:01:56, Info CSI 000001e2 Ignoring duplicate ownership for directory [l:54{27}]"\??\C:\Windows\System32\WCN" in component Microsoft-Windows-WCN-Config-Registrar-Wizard2.Resources, Version = 6.1.6002.18005, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture = [l:10{5}]"pl-PL", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral

2014-02-11 22:01:56, Info CSI 000001e3 Ignoring duplicate ownership for directory [l:66{33}]"\??\C:\Windows\System32\WCN\pl-PL" in component Microsoft-Windows-WCN-Config-Registrar-Wizard2.Resources, Version = 6.1.6002.18005, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture = [l:10{5}]"pl-PL", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral

2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 0000022a [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"msxml4r.dll" of Microsoft.MSXML2R, Version = 4.1.0.0, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture neutral, VersionScope neutral, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:6bd6b9abf345378f}, Type = [l:10{5}]"win32", TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, file is missing

2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 0000022b Hashes for file member \??\C:\Windows\System32\ole32.dll do not match actual file [l:18{9}]"ole32.dll" : Found: {l:32 b:emW2JolAJ513zgjWlTBhUKj43ZpoeNKjInmaxXaWDGs=} Expected: {l:32 b:Z0qvZlltTzVkqCGErZgZWuTt0sBbLldcOxvGeUGWU/8=}

2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 0000022c [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:46{23}]"\??\C:\Windows\System32"[l:18{9}]"ole32.dll" from store

2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 0000022d Hashes for file member \??\C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iecompat.dll do not match actual file [l:24{12}]"iecompat.dll" : Found: {l:32 b:IcHEUbnFfpfr4A9Q3cIkFAFTfv02theGUDHs3hd366Q=} Expected: {l:32 b:64fGcWZtwScot47uausAEh5d7y5zmXC7O6eZqg4ATI8=}

2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 0000022e [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:76{38}]"\??\C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer"[l:24{12}]"iecompat.dll" from store 2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 0000022f Hashes for file member \??\C:\Windows\System32\mfc40u.dll do not match actual file [l:20{10}]"mfc40u.dll" : Found: {l:32 b:6u+rXz7b2apRm5ggPCjM0dPFGnWr/kQqhrDtIkRSwrQ=} Expected: {l:32 b:asi9vidDcg6byG7lKldJtIxl2wA2twI+nA4VUSbRNtI=}

2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 00000230 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:46{23}]"\??\C:\Windows\System32"[l:20{10}]"mfc40u.dll" from store

2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 00000231 Hashes for file member \??\C:\Windows\System32\licensing\ppdlic\MovieMaker-ppdlic.xrm-ms do not match actual file [l:48{24}]"MovieMaker-ppdlic.xrm-ms" : Found: {l:32 b:MqSqZBxih5g3WEOxhw80Lru6V+1nLdYYrJOW9gOlKEQ=} Expected: {l:32 b:KZuEJHoOONlh89DMPOW9MA8tHnigy+w8oV+EwmkbKHU=}

2014-02-11 22:04:23, Info CSI 00000232 [SR] Repairing corrupted file

Answer 1

Your Windows installation looks to be completely corrupted and your file-system is also in a bad shape. The examination of your "sfc /scannow" log shows that not only you have corrupted Windows DLLs, but you also have permission errors on system files, and even your Windows activation is probably gone. Windows Update is the least of your worries.

I have no idea what could have caused such a catastrophic failure. A serious disk failure is possible, requiring in that case the replacement of the disk, or maybe some disastrous manipulation you (or somebody) has done.

My best advice is to reformat the hard disk (using slow format) and to reinstall Vista. As you say that you don't have an installation DVD, I suggest to ask Microsoft Support for one (assuming that your Windows is legitimate). Otherwise, search for a suitable torrent and download a copy (I'm not going to give precise directions on how).

If you wish to ignore my above advice and try to salvage this Vista installation, start by using chkdsk to repair your hard disk. See this article :
The How-To Geek Guide to Using Check Disk in Windows 7 or Vista.
Just keep in mind that if the disk is in very bad shape, Windows may no longer boot after that.

As far as Windows Update goes, I would guess that the access errors you are getting are on the folders

C:\users\default\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft
C:\Windows\serviceprofiles\networkservice\appdata\roaming\microsoft

Try to give the Full Control permission to the Everyone account on these folders and try starting slsvc again.

You could also try to create a new administrator account and see whether logon with it works better.

Answer 2

Use your windows Vista Sp2 DVD and repair Windows by doing an Inplace upgrade.

• Boot into Windows
• Open the Windows DVD and run setup.exe
• During setup select "Upgrade":

Look if this fixes your issues.