Do not disable "DCOM Server Process Launcher" service
DCOM Server Process Launcher is a new service introduced in windows XP SP2. It plays a very important role on the system, and will start other "manual" services when necessary. Since it is relatively new and the documentation about it is poor, some people believe this service is useless and disabled it.
I have experienced several weird problems when the service is not started:
1. Watir scripts won't run, Ruby reports "Failed to create WIN32OLE object from `InternetExplorer.Application' (WIN32OLERuntimeError)
HRESULT error code:0x800706ba The RPC server is unavailable.".
2. Symantec Antivirus LiveUpdate fails with LU1803 error. All the workarounds on the web do not help.
3. Most installers won't run with "RPC server is unavailable" error message. Although you can fix that by starting "Windows Installer" service manually.
If you have the same problems, first check if its startup type is "Automatic".
I have experienced several weird problems when the service is not started:
1. Watir scripts won't run, Ruby reports "Failed to create WIN32OLE object from `InternetExplorer.Application' (WIN32OLERuntimeError)
HRESULT error code:0x800706ba The RPC server is unavailable.".
2. Symantec Antivirus LiveUpdate fails with LU1803 error. All the workarounds on the web do not help.
3. Most installers won't run with "RPC server is unavailable" error message. Although you can fix that by starting "Windows Installer" service manually.
If you have the same problems, first check if its startup type is "Automatic".
posted by xue.yong.zhi at 6:52 PM
19 Comments:
I havn't install SP2 in my XP. My XP is copyright, but I heard there's some problem in the firewall configuration in SP2, so since my SP1 is running pretty well, I deny to update it. I heard those updates of last week creates some system error?
Hey ben, that is a bad practice. You'd better "always" apply the latest security update or have your PC isolated by a good firewall (Windows firewall is not enough since it leaves several ports open).
There are lots of exploits available to attack your PC right now. You can trust MS's QA, sometimes they make mistakes, but that's rare and will be corrected in a timly manner.
Yes, you are right, I should install SP2 now. Usually I would like to keep it up to date, but if the patch is too big, I will wait for a while, let somebody else to try it on, and make sure everything is fine :)
I have a hardware firewall--router to protect my network, and blocked all unwanted ports. So I'm not very worried about hacker thing, except Torjan Horse.
The bad news is that "DCOM Server Process Launcher" is used by malware, including at least one threat that is not detected by any of the many anti-malware tools I've thrown at it. On the infected computer, When DCOM Server Process Launcher is enabled, then as soon as I start any browser (IE, FireFox, or Opera), IE fires up, displaying an advertisement. From then on IE pops up another ad about once every 4-6 minutes. (Most of the ads are for porn sites, but I also got an ad for an ambulance chasing lawyer named Daniel A. Pava, of Springfield, Mass.)
The good news is that if you disable DCOM Server Process Launcher the problem seems to go away, with no ill effects. (Contrary to a Microsoft web page I read, disabling it does NOT interfere with the Windows Firewall.)
Just run services.msc, and set DCOM Server Process Launcher to disabled, and reboot.
Note: this is on Windows XP Media Center Edition, with SP2 and all the latest Windows Updates (as of 1/14/2008).
Dave Burton
www.geeksalive.com
Cary, NC
P.S. -- I've read that disabling the DCOM Server Process Launcher service breaks Microsoft Access 2003. I've not verified that for myself, but if you use Access then be sure and check it after disabling DCOM Server Process Launcher.
Dave Burton
www.geeksalive.com
P.S. -- Well, I was wrong. Disabling DCOM Server Process Launcher does break a few things. Here's an article:
http://smallvoid.com/article/winnt-services-dcomlaunch.html
Contrary to that article, Windows Firewall still works, but I've verified that with DCOM Server Process Launcher disabled defrag and msinfo32 both fail.
Dave Burton
www.geeksalive.com
Hi,
I have a Gateway Tablet PC with WINDOWS XP (for tablet pc), and my problem is very similar,
3. Most installers won't run with "RPC server is unavailable" error message. Although you can fix that by starting "Windows Installer" service manually.
But when i watch in my Service, well surprise, the DCOM Server Process Launcher DOESN't EXIST in my Service.
In my Microsoft Word I can't use my ENDNOTE, or, MATHTYPE or any Add-In.
Please I really need help, If any know the solution for these problem, send me an email electrozone@hotmail.com
I really will appreciate.
Thanks
Does anyone actually still use Internet Explorer? Or any other MS products unless there is no alternative?
Sure, the DCOM launcher problem also occurs with Firefox, but why anyone would voluntarily use a piece of rubbish such as IE is a total mystery.
It's wierd, but "DCOM server process launcher" takes about 60MB RAM on my computer almost slowing time my internet, my programs, my boot time and some other things. Normally my XP SP2 boottime has been always 15,2 seconds and since all those Microsoft Updates for this program and that program, the boottime is now 25 seconds!
Nice Microsoft, just nice. No wonder you come with Vista. I have heard from 9,781,923 persons from Steam (Game Community) that Vista slows down all programs by 10%.
I have heard about Windows Se7en (Windows 7) that they are testing the boottime which will be less than 10seconds. Now Microsoft, if you have Windows 7 and you are going to update this program and that dll file cause there are bugs and some shit, I hope you DO NOT change the boottime, otherwise my 9,781,923 persons that are under me, will say "Screw you Microsoft we are going to us some other OS". I have been betatesting some Microsoft Software in the past and they all have 1 problem. If program x uses file y and you start program z and you let it also use file y, cause file y is very important, Windows XP says "Sorry file y is in use by another program." So all those higher people have to use first program x, save it, than do the stuff with program z, save it and go back to program x. Nice waste of time.
Sincerly,
MISTERAMD
AMDTECH CEO
I've noticed that after setting the Server service to manual, the Windows Image Acquisition service to manual, the DCOM Server Process Launcher service to disabled, and the Task Scheduler service to manual that the Network Connections folder was empty when it should have been expanded on the Start Menu (Eg: Expand Network Connections), and also the System Tray Network applets were gone too. They reappeared after I started those services and then right clicking Network Connections to open it. Very strange. I wonder which service it needed.
Even McAfee Total protection do not launch without this service set t automatic.
I had to do a lot of research to find it out, when McAfee in my system failed to launch.
how can i disable "dcom server process launcher" in "windows 7"
@ncdave4life: I have the same problem. I never use IE, but somehow my DCOM Server Process Launcher has been exploited so that it keeps [re]starting IE to access advertising sites. Disabling DCOM Server Process Launcher fixes it, but a lot of programs seem to need DCOM Server Process Launcher.
Has anybody found a way to fix this problem? I've run lots of antimalware programs and nothing works.
You ppl are just too damn smart!! I'm just trying to figure out if the Windows Task Manager can point me to the Funweb product spyware that I know is somewhere hiding! I downloaded Spybot, Search and Destroy and Norton's Power Tool..still can't find that SOB! Aaaarrrrgh! I'm new at the cyber world and this is my first puter. It's using Windows Vista Home Basic. Should I disable DCOM Server Processor too? I saw the bugger in the Task Manager. Thank you nice, very smart ppl! hagd
search google for "funweb remover"
ty Justin!!
Back again! Does anybody know if I can unlock and remove the registry keys on this Vista home basic puter using "ComboFix" to get rid of FunWeb bug? Thank you
It's me again..the Rookie! Good morning! I downloaded Uniblue Registry Booster 2010 and ran a Registry Scan. I have 307 errs affecting all users, 161 User errs affecting Windows acct and 1 third party err affecting program installed on PC.
What does this all mean? I also noticed that my favorites had switched to "History". I NEVER GO THERE!! I keep it in the "Fav" column! Please advise me what to do with this vista home basic computer. Can't afford to buy a new one. tyvm! hagd.
The System information, the Defragmenter and the Windows update stopped working without this service on Win-XP-Home SP3.
Post a Comment
<< Home