Ways to Combat Failed to Connect to a Windows Service Issue

Services form a major part of every Windows system. However, there is some service related issue that occurs incessantly. The error marked as Failed to connect to a Windows service generally pops up when the PC crashes after performing the reboot during Windows Updates.

It might happen that the system gets restarted after the crash and thereby shoots an unexpected error during the update. This error message generally takes place owing to the loss of certain registry settings that are used to initialize the Group Policy Client service.

Therefore, go through this comprehensive user guide to understand the entire process of troubleshooting this exasperating issue.

Suitable Ways to Counteract Failed to Connect to a Windows Service Windows 7 Issue

One of the major errors you encounter in Windows includes Failed to connect to Windows service. This is basically due to damaged or corrupted system files. Therefore, go through the below fixes to remove this potential error.

Fix 1: Perform an SFC Scan

In the majority of the cases, sfc/scannow command will help you to repair the damaged system files.

1. First, you need to open a Command Prompt Window. After that, write ‘cmd’ in the search box.
2. Next, you need to right-click on the first icon. Then, choose the button marked as Run as Administrator.
3. You need to enter sfc/scannow in the new window that opens.
4. Press the Enter option and wait for some time till the process gets over. Moreover, you have to ensure that the scanning process is not getting hampered.
5. Finally, reboot your PC. However, if the error still persists, go ahead with the next fix.

Fix 2: Resetting Winsock Catalog

1. First, you need to open the elevated Command Prompt.
2. Next, enter the netsh winsock reset command.
3. Press Enter, and after the process gets over, you have to reboot the PC to examine whether the issue still persists or not.

Fix 3: Cleaning the Reboot

1. In order to begin, you have to open the search box using Win Key + R combination.
2. Next, write ‘msconfig’ in the search box and then hit Enter.
3. Thereafter, hit on the Service tab and then inspect Hide all Microsoft Services.
4. Then, press Disable all option.
5. After that, move to the Startup in order to deactivate all the services. If you are a Windows 8/10 user, then you will find the Startup services in the Task Manager. In order to open the Task Manager, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc combination.
6. Next, press OK in order to apply and thereafter save the changes.
7. Furthermore, restart the PC. However, if you face this issue again, you can re-enable the service thoroughly using the previous steps in order to check the underlying reason behind this issue.
8. If the problem still persists after disabling all non-Microsoft services, then the root cause is something different. Now, you can enable all the services since this will not cause any inconvenience.

Fix 4: Registry Editor

Usually, the major issue pertaining to the Failed to connect Windows service error are the missing Registry settings. So, go through the rest of the article to know how to edit manually and incorporate significant registry items that are missing.

1. Press Win key as well as R key and enter ‘regedit’ in the search window that opens.
2. After that press Enter and after that wait for a while till the Registry Editor gets loaded.
3. Press on that particular file and choose Export in the Registry Editor.
4. In the left pane of the Registry Editor Window, follow the path:

             HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE – SOFTWARE – Microsoft – Windows NT – CurrentVersion – SvcHost.

5. Now, press SvcHost folder and then search for an item present in the right panel marked as GPSvcGroup. You will not find the error. However, if the case is different go ahead with the rest of the steps under this method.
6. If you don’t obtain GPSvcGroup, you need to create it manually. After that, press on the SvcHost folder and take your mouse over the New option. Thereafter, you need to choose a Multi-String value option available in the next menu. You will find a new string window present on the right-hand side. Therefore, right-click on that option in order to open it and then choose Rename.
7. Next, enter GPSvcGroup and click on Enter. Then, you need to double-click on the GPSvcGroup string in order to change it. After that, you have to replace Value Data with GPSvc and after that choose OK.
8. Moreover, you have to right-click once more on SvcHost folder and then navigate to New.
9. Now choose the Key in order to build a new one.
10. After that, you can rename the key to GPSvcGroup.Now press the new key marked as GPSvcGroup and then right-click on the blank region present in the right panel.
11. Choose New and press DWORD (32-bit) value.
12. Repeat the earlier steps in order to form the second DWORD. Two of them must be present in GPSvcGroup key. Moreover, you need to set the base as Decimal.
13. You need to rename the second DWORD value to CoInitializeSecurityParam. The value data should be 1 and base should be Decimal.
14. Shut down the Registry Editor after completing all the earlier steps. Finally, click on OK in order to apply all the changes.
15. Finally, reboot the PC and examine if the error Failed to Connect to a Windows Service Windows 7 persist or not.

Fix 5: Disable Fast Startup

Several users reported that Fast Startup option can lead to Failed to connect to a Windows Service error message and in order to resolve this issue, we recommend you to disable the Fast Startup. To perform that, go through the below instructions

1. In order to start, press the Windows key as well as S key at the same time. After that, you need to select Power Options from the preferred list.
2. Press the option marked as Choose what the power button does.
3. After that, press on the option entitled Change settings that are currently unavailable.
4. Next, move down to the Shutdown settings and thereafter untick Turn on fast startup (recommended) option.
5. Finally, press the Save Changes for immediate effect.

We have to mention the fact that by disabling the fast startup option, your computer might boot at a slower pace. However, it will remove all the major issues.

Fix 6: Stop Windows Font Cache Services

Some of the users reported that the Windows Font Cache can lead to serious issues along with other services. Henceforth, you need to switch it off and remove FontCache data files using the under-mentioned steps.

1. First and foremost thing is to press Windows Key as well as the R keys at the same time. After that, write ‘services.msc’. Click on Enter or else press OK.
2. When the Service window pops up, you need to identify the Windows Font Cache Service. After that, you need to right-click on it and then select the Stop option.
3. Now, you have to minimize the service window. After that, you need to hold the Windows key as well as R key simultaneously. Then, type %localappdata% and click OK.
4. After that, navigate to the Local folder present in the AppData. Next, remove the FontCachedat files.
5. Then, retrace back to the services window and then right-click on the Windows Font Cache service. After that, you need to select Start from the main menu.

Fix 7: Use Safe Mode

Some of the users reported this annoying error after entering the Safe Mode. If you wish to access the Safe Mode, you need to go through these steps:

1. First and foremost thing is to press the Start Button. After that, click Restart while holding the Shift key.
2. When the PC restarts, you can view three options. After that, select Troubleshoot and from the Advanced Options, click on Startup Settings. Finally, press Restart.
3. After the PC restarts, you can view the entire list of options. Moreover, press F5 in order to enter Safe Mode with Networking.
4. Finally, you can restart your system after entering into safe Mode.

Fix 8: Uninstalling Soluto as well as Bing Bar

According to some of the users, there are certain programs such as Soluto as well as Bing bar that can lead to this issue. If you found any of those installed programs, we advise you to remove them at the earliest.

In order to start the process, you need to open the Settings app and move to the Apps & Features section. After that, you need to identify the program and then press the Uninstall button.

Fix 9: Deactivate User Account Control

Failed to connect to a Windows service issue sometimes pops up when UAC is turned on in your administrator accounts. In order to resolve this issue, we need to switch off UAC and we can do so using the following steps:

1. In order to begin, press the Windows key as well as the S key at the same time and the write User Accounts. After that, you need to choose User Accounts from the available list.
2. Press Change User Account settings when you find the User Accounts window.
3. After that, you need to move the slider to the left till you reach Never Notify.
4. Finally, press OK in order to make the unsaved changes.

Fix 10: Disconnect the Earphone

Although this is an absurd solution. But some of the users find it very useful. If you are getting Failed to connect to a Windows service, you may wish to disconnect your headphones before you restart your PC. If this fix works for you, you need to repeat it each and every time you turn off the PC.

To Sum it Up

In order to conclude, we must suggest that this article covers all the effective fixes pertaining to Failed to connect to a Windows service. This issue is really troublesome and if this problem lingers for a long time it might create a lot of problems.

Therefore, you can try some of the above-mentioned fixes. Moreover, to have a quick glance, you can refer to the user guide. Also, if you have any innovative idea in your mind, provide that in the comment section.