Windows Security Center service completely missing - can't start

Question

My Windows Security Center service is completely missing from Services.msc. When I try to start it using Command Prompt (net start wscsvc), I get:

"Error 1060: The specified service does not exist as an installed service."

When I try to open Windows Security from the Start menu, nothing happens or the window is blank.

What I've tried so far:

• sfc /scannow (completed, no change)
• DISM commands (completed, no change)
• Ran securityhealthsetup.exe as administrator (no change)
• Checked Services.msc - "Security Center" is not listed at all

My system info:

• Windows 10 Version 22H2
• This started happening recently

I have already run FRST64 as instructed. Here is the link to my FRST.txt and Addition.txt logs:

https://gofile.io/d/jtXTaw

Please help me restore the Security Center service. Thank you.

Answer 1

On Windows versions where the Security Center service (wscsvc) is missing or corrupted, the supported way to restore it is to recreate its registry configuration and then re-import it.

Important: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause serious system problems. Back up the registry first, or create a system restore point, before proceeding.

1. Open Registry Editor
   1. Press the Windows logo key, type regedit.
   2. Right‑click regedit.exe and select Run as administrator.
   3. If prompted by UAC, select Yes.
2. Remove the broken Security Center service key
   1. In Registry Editor, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wscsvc
   2. If the wscsvc key exists, right‑click it and select Delete, then confirm.
3. Create a new registry definition file
   1. Open Notepad (Windows key → type notepad → open Notepad).
   2. Copy and paste the following content into Notepad (this defines the Security Center service):

            Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
            
            [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wscsvc]
            "DisplayName"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\wscsvc.dll,-200"
            "ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
            "ImagePath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
             74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
             00,76,00,63,00,68,00,6f,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2d,00,\
             6b,00,20,00,4c,00,6f,00,63,00,61,00,6c,00,53,00,65,00,72,00,76,00,69,00,63,\
             00,65,00,4e,00,65,00,74,00,77,00,6f,00,72,00,6b,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,74,00,\
             72,00,69,00,63,00,74,00,65,00,64,00,00,00
            "Start"=dword:00000002
            "Type"=dword:00000020
            "Description"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\wscsvc.dll,-201"
            "DependOnService"=hex(7):52,00,70,00,63,00,53,00,73,00,00,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,\
             4d,00,67,00,6d,00,74,00,00,00,00,00
            "ObjectName"="NT AUTHORITY\\LocalService"
            "ServiceSidType"=dword:00000001
            "RequiredPrivileges"=hex(7):53,00,65,00,43,00,68,00,61,00,6e,00,67,00,65,00,4e,\
             00,6f,00,74,00,69,00,66,00,79,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,\
             67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6d,00,70,00,65,00,72,00,73,00,6f,00,6e,\
             00,61,00,74,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,\
             00,00,00,00
            "DelayedAutoStart"=dword:00000001
            "FailureActions"=hex:80,51,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,14,00,00,\
             00,01,00,00,00,c0,d4,01,00,01,00,00,00,e0,93,04,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
            
            [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wscsvc\Parameters]
            "ServiceDllUnloadOnStop"=dword:00000001
            "ServiceDll"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
             00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
             77,00,73,00,63,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00
            
            [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\wscsvc\Security]
            "Security"=hex:01,00,14,80,c8,00,00,00,d4,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,02,\
             00,1c,00,01,00,00,00,02,80,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
             00,00,02,00,98,00,06,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,fd,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
             05,12,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\
             20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,9d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,04,00,00,00,00,\
             00,14,00,8d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,00,01,\
             00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,0b,00,00,00,00,00,28,00,15,00,00,00,01,06,00,\
             00,00,00,00,05,50,00,00,00,49,59,9d,77,91,56,e5,55,dc,f4,e2,0e,a7,8b,eb,ca,\
             7b,42,13,56,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,\
             00,00,00
      

   3. In Notepad, select File → Save As.
   4. In Save as type, select All Files.
   5. Name the file Hkey.reg and save it to a known location (for example, Desktop).
4. Import the registry file
   1. In Registry Editor, select File → Import.
   2. Browse to Hkey.reg, select it, and choose Open.
   3. When prompted, confirm the import and then select OK.
5. Verify and start the service
   1. Open Services (Windows key → type services → open Services).
   2. Locate Security Center in the list.
   3. Double‑click it and ensure Startup type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start).
   4. Select Start in Service status, then Apply and OK.

If the service still does not start after restoring the registry entry, scan the system for malware using up‑to‑date antivirus software, as malware or further corruption can also prevent Security Center from functioning correctly.

---

References:

• Error message: “Security Center service cannot be started”
• Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files
• Automatically fix Windows security issues