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The Cryptographic services service failed to start, Windows Update error

Anonymous
2011-01-08T14:19:01+00:00

The base problem is that I'm unable to run Windows Update.

I get the error,

"Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer."

The service is running and I am able to stop it and restart it.

I went through my event logs and was able to come up with three different errors that I believe from some research are related. I've read several forums including some on this site that say I need hotfix 50202. But, I am unable to locate that hotfix, microsoft has deleted all articles that have been linked to it.

I'm running Win 7 64-bit

ERROR 1

The Cryptographic Services service failed to initialize the Catalog Database. The ESENT error was: -583.

Description:

The Cryptographic Services service failed to initialize the Catalog Database. The ESENT error was: -583.

Event Xml:

<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">

  <System>

    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-CAPI2" Guid="{5bbca4a8-b209-48dc-a8c7-b23d3e5216fb}" EventSourceName="Microsoft-Windows-CAPI2" />

    <EventID Qualifiers="0">257</EventID>

    <Version>0</Version>

ERROR 2

Log Name:    System

Source:        Service Control Manager

Date:          1/7/2011 3:26:44 PM

Event ID:      7023

Task Category: None

Level:         Error

Keywords:      Classic

User:          N/A

Computer:      User-PC

Description:

The Windows Defender service terminated with the following error:

%%-1906441657

ERROR 3

Log Name:      System

Source:        Service Control Manager

Date:          1/8/2011 5:53:11 AM

Event ID:      7024

Task Category: None

Level:         Error

Keywords:      Classic

User:          N/A

Computer:      User-PC

Description:

The Windows Search service terminated with service-specific error %%-2147217025.

Event Xml:

I Have you tried repairing the catalog database?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc734083(WS.10).aspx

I have tried reinstalling my system with the Windows 7 64-bit recovery disks made from the hidden partition on the HDD and receive all the same errors.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the error I get when I run the command:

C:\Windows\System32>esentutl /p c:\Windows\System32\catroot2{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1

-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\catdb

Extensible Storage Engine Utilities for Microsoft(R) Windows(R)

Version 6.1

Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Error: Access to source database 'c:\Windows\System32\catroot2{F750E6C3-38EE-11

D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\catdb' failed with Jet error -1811.

Log Name:    Application

Source:        CAPI2

Date:           1/8/2011 8:16:19 AM

Event ID:      257

Task Category: None

Level:         Error

Keywords:      Classic

User:          N/A

Computer:      User-PC

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-01-24T23:59:35+00:00

    I finally was able to solve this problem.  I found the answer on another forum and it solved my problem as well.

    The error was caused by the Intel Rapid Storage Technology program that comes with my Toshiba laptop. 

    I guess the old driver didn't like the new 640gb hard drive I installed.  Maybe it was only designed for up to 500gb (this is my old hard drive size that worked fine).

    The Intel Rapid Storage Technology program was shown in the taskbar notifications with a yellow exclamation point.

    As soon as I updated this driver to the latest from the Intel website, Windows Update and everything else worked.

    Hope this helps everyone else having the same problem

    Thanks P A Bear for all your help.

    Glenn

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2011-01-09T01:26:36+00:00

    Thanks for your reply

    1.  New Computer running Windows 7 64-bit

    2.  Toshiba Satalite A505 preloaded with Windows 7 64-bit.  Hidden partition with reinstall files. 

    3.  No antivirus or anti-spyware applications currently loaded except Norton Internet Security, not activated

    4.  Norton Internet Security is loaded but not activated.  No others.

    5.  Answered in #4

    Glenn

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-01-08T22:58:01+00:00

    Please answer all of the following diagnostic questions by number in your very next reply (no need to quote this post):

    1. Did you upgrade to Win7 or is it a new computer?

       • Is my PC running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows?

          http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/find-out-32-or-64-bit

    1. Is it a Win7 64-bit computer?
    2. What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current?  What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?  What third-party firewall (if any)?
    3. Has a(nother) Norton application or a McAfee application ever been installed on the computer?
    4. Did a Norton free-trial or a McAfee free-trial come preinstalled on the computer when you bought it? (Doesn't matter if you never used or Activated it.)

    ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-01-08T20:03:56+00:00

    Hi Jose,

     Thank you for your reply.

    I followed your suggestion and still have the same errors and can't run updates.

    Any other suggestion?

    Glenn

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-01-08T17:16:04+00:00

    Access the KB971058 article via Internet Explorer (only) & run theFix It 50202 in DEFAULT and AGGRESSIVE modes.

    Although this page states that this KB article does not apply to Windows 7, it does.

    A general fix, *IF* there's no malware issue, would be to reset the updating components: How do I reset Windows Update components? I would check to make sure your system is not infected.  Win7 (butnot Win7 64-bit) => Run this scan: http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058>

    The most effective way to employ the above Fixit is to download, *save* it, configure the system to Clean boot, then runMicrosoft Fix it 50202.msi, and first choose the Default mode. Restart.

    See if the system can update now. If no joy, run it again with the system connected to the internet, in the Aggressive mode. Restart.

    See if the system can update now.

    Then UNdo the Clean boot steps and see if it can search for updates in normal Windows mode.

    How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in WindowsVista/Windows 7 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058>

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