Vista - Activation/Wireless Service problems/Windows Update not working/smss.exe stops

Hello,

I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to authenticate Vista -
do I need to enable this now?). I find everytime I log in that the Windows
Wireless Service is not running. So I go to manage network connections,
right-click and select diagnose on the connection set-up for my wireless
router (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have started the Wireless
Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells me that a change has
occurred in my license and I need to restart. This happens every time. If
I try and activate Vista before I start up the Wireless Service then it
tries to connect without an error, but then, of course, I have to start it
up and then get the license error (so basically stuck in a loop). I also
receive a license error: 0XC004D401.

I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm don't run
or work and I canot update Windows Defender.

And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped and been
closed.

Any ideas?

Kol

Sorry perhaps I should have posted all these in separate post.

Kol


"Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to authenticate
> Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find everytime I log in that
> the Windows Wireless Service is not running. So I go to manage network
> connections, right-click and select diagnose on the connection set-up for
> my wireless router (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have started
> the Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells me that a
> change has occurred in my license and I need to restart. This happens
> every time. If I try and activate Vista before I start up the Wireless
> Service then it tries to connect without an error, but then, of course, I
> have to start it up and then get the license error (so basically stuck in
> a loop). I also receive a license error: 0XC004D401.
>
> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm don't run
> or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>
> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped and been
> closed.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Kol
>

Did you do a clean installation or an upgrade?

"Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to authenticate
> Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find everytime I log in that
> the Windows Wireless Service is not running. So I go to manage network
> connections, right-click and select diagnose on the connection set-up for
> my wireless router (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have started
> the Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells me that a
> change has occurred in my license and I need to restart. This happens
> every time. If I try and activate Vista before I start up the Wireless
> Service then it tries to connect without an error, but then, of course, I
> have to start it up and then get the license error (so basically stuck in
> a loop). I also receive a license error: 0XC004D401.
>
> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm don't run
> or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>
> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped and been
> closed.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Kol
>

Upgrade, I currently don't have the capacity to do a clean install, though,
yes I'm sure it's the best option.

Kol


"Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
news:uRm8$XPqGHA.4924@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Did you do a clean installation or an upgrade?
>
> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to authenticate
>> Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find everytime I log in that
>> the Windows Wireless Service is not running. So I go to manage network
>> connections, right-click and select diagnose on the connection set-up for
>> my wireless router (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have started
>> the Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells me that a
>> change has occurred in my license and I need to restart. This happens
>> every time. If I try and activate Vista before I start up the Wireless
>> Service then it tries to connect without an error, but then, of course, I
>> have to start it up and then get the license error (so basically stuck in
>> a loop). I also receive a license error: 0XC004D401.
>>
>> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm don't
>> run or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>>
>> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped and
>> been closed.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Kol
>>
>
>

Can anyone help?

Kol


"Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
news:%23UwQYfPqGHA.4760@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Upgrade, I currently don't have the capacity to do a clean install,
> though, yes I'm sure it's the best option.
>
> Kol
>
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:uRm8$XPqGHA.4924@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Did you do a clean installation or an upgrade?
>>
>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to authenticate
>>> Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find everytime I log in that
>>> the Windows Wireless Service is not running. So I go to manage network
>>> connections, right-click and select diagnose on the connection set-up
>>> for my wireless router (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have
>>> started the Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells
>>> me that a change has occurred in my license and I need to restart. This
>>> happens every time. If I try and activate Vista before I start up the
>>> Wireless Service then it tries to connect without an error, but then, of
>>> course, I have to start it up and then get the license error (so
>>> basically stuck in a loop). I also receive a license error: 0XC004D401.
>>>
>>> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm don't
>>> run or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>>>
>>> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped and
>>> been closed.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>>
>>> Kol
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

That's the problem with the upgrade scenario right now. The Upgrade Advisor
is beta too. You probably should have removed Real Player and Zone Alarm
especially before upgrading.

Can you connect to a router by ethernet cable and forget wireless until you
get straightened out? How about through a desktop with ICS? How about a
friend's house to at least get activated?

"Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
news:%23ywd9oBrGHA.4424@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Can anyone help?
>
> Kol
>
>
> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:%23UwQYfPqGHA.4760@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Upgrade, I currently don't have the capacity to do a clean install,
>> though, yes I'm sure it's the best option.
>>
>> Kol
>>
>>
>> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
>> news:uRm8$XPqGHA.4924@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Did you do a clean installation or an upgrade?
>>>
>>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
>>> news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to authenticate
>>>> Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find everytime I log in that
>>>> the Windows Wireless Service is not running. So I go to manage network
>>>> connections, right-click and select diagnose on the connection set-up
>>>> for my wireless router (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have
>>>> started the Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells
>>>> me that a change has occurred in my license and I need to restart.
>>>> This happens every time. If I try and activate Vista before I start up
>>>> the Wireless Service then it tries to connect without an error, but
>>>> then, of course, I have to start it up and then get the license error
>>>> (so basically stuck in a loop). I also receive a license error:
>>>> 0XC004D401.
>>>>
>>>> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm don't
>>>> run or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>>>>
>>>> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped and
>>>> been closed.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>> Kol
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

ICS never seems to work for me. I'll have to get out my 'bloody-long-lead'
again and see if that helps. Thanks, Colin.

Kol


"Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
news:%23ShrjjErGHA.3816@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> That's the problem with the upgrade scenario right now. The Upgrade
> Advisor is beta too. You probably should have removed Real Player and
> Zone Alarm especially before upgrading.
>
> Can you connect to a router by ethernet cable and forget wireless until
> you get straightened out? How about through a desktop with ICS? How
> about a friend's house to at least get activated?
>
> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:%23ywd9oBrGHA.4424@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Can anyone help?
>>
>> Kol
>>
>>
>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:%23UwQYfPqGHA.4760@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Upgrade, I currently don't have the capacity to do a clean install,
>>> though, yes I'm sure it's the best option.
>>>
>>> Kol
>>>
>>>
>>> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
>>> news:uRm8$XPqGHA.4924@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> Did you do a clean installation or an upgrade?
>>>>
>>>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
>>>> news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to authenticate
>>>>> Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find everytime I log in
>>>>> that the Windows Wireless Service is not running. So I go to manage
>>>>> network connections, right-click and select diagnose on the connection
>>>>> set-up for my wireless router (which I had to set-up manually). Once
>>>>> I have started the Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista
>>>>> it tells me that a change has occurred in my license and I need to
>>>>> restart. This happens every time. If I try and activate Vista before
>>>>> I start up the Wireless Service then it tries to connect without an
>>>>> error, but then, of course, I have to start it up and then get the
>>>>> license error (so basically stuck in a loop). I also receive a
>>>>> license error: 0XC004D401.
>>>>>
>>>>> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm don't
>>>>> run or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>>>>>
>>>>> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped and
>>>>> been closed.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>
>>>>> Kol
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Kolin-

When you boot up, can you search for smss.exe, and report back where all
locations of the file are?
As you described the steps to reaching your problem, it smells more like an
infection (carried over from your XP machine) than a botched upgrade.

A while back, there was a trojan that distributed a fake smss.exe file that
acted as a backdoor. It runs at startup.
from the HKLM\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run in the registry
(I'm not at my test machine so could someone else verify if this is still
the same location in Vista for the autoruns?)

From XP, you could check by going to Start>Run>Msconfig and click on the
startup tab....if smss.exe showed up here...it's the bad one.

The real smss.exe gets invoked from system processes. and it controls the
starting of winlogon and crsmss.

-Ben
"Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to authenticate
> Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find everytime I log in that
> the Windows Wireless Service is not running. So I go to manage network
> connections, right-click and select diagnose on the connection set-up for
> my wireless router (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have started
> the Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells me that a
> change has occurred in my license and I need to restart. This happens
> every time. If I try and activate Vista before I start up the Wireless
> Service then it tries to connect without an error, but then, of course, I
> have to start it up and then get the license error (so basically stuck in
> a loop). I also receive a license error: 0XC004D401.
>
> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm don't run
> or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>
> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped and been
> closed.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Kol
>

Hi there,

I've been able to get Windows Update to work and got the latest updates installed.
Once I rebooted I also got Vista activated. So thanks for everyone's help.

Kol


Kol Tregaskes
mailto:kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk

> ICS never seems to work for me. I'll have to get out my
> 'bloody-long-lead' again and see if that helps. Thanks, Colin.
>
> Kol
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:%23ShrjjErGHA.3816@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>> That's the problem with the upgrade scenario right now. The Upgrade
>> Advisor is beta too. You probably should have removed Real Player
>> and Zone Alarm especially before upgrading.
>>
>> Can you connect to a router by ethernet cable and forget wireless
>> until you get straightened out? How about through a desktop with
>> ICS? How about a friend's house to at least get activated?
>>
>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in
>> message news:%23ywd9oBrGHA.4424@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>>> Can anyone help?
>>>
>>> Kol
>>>
>>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in
>>> message news:%23UwQYfPqGHA.4760@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>> Upgrade, I currently don't have the capacity to do a clean install,
>>>> though, yes I'm sure it's the best option.
>>>>
>>>> Kol
>>>>
>>>> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:uRm8$XPqGHA.4924@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>>> Did you do a clean installation or an upgrade?
>>>>>
>>>>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in
>>>>> message news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to
>>>>>> authenticate Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find
>>>>>> everytime I log in that the Windows Wireless Service is not
>>>>>> running. So I go to manage network connections, right-click and
>>>>>> select diagnose on the connection set-up for my wireless router
>>>>>> (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have started the
>>>>>> Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells me
>>>>>> that a change has occurred in my license and I need to restart.
>>>>>> This happens every time. If I try and activate Vista before I
>>>>>> start up the Wireless Service then it tries to connect without an
>>>>>> error, but then, of course, I have to start it up and then get
>>>>>> the license error (so basically stuck in a loop). I also receive
>>>>>> a license error: 0XC004D401.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm
>>>>>> don't run or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped
>>>>>> and been closed.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Kol
>>>>>>

You're welcome.

"Kol Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7c74fa3c246708c87c9bff14691c@msnews.microsoft.com...
> Hi there,
>
> I've been able to get Windows Update to work and got the latest updates
> installed. Once I rebooted I also got Vista activated. So thanks for
> everyone's help.
>
> Kol
>
>
> Kol Tregaskes
> mailto:kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk
>
>> ICS never seems to work for me. I'll have to get out my
>> 'bloody-long-lead' again and see if that helps. Thanks, Colin.
>>
>> Kol
>>
>> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
>> news:%23ShrjjErGHA.3816@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>>> That's the problem with the upgrade scenario right now. The Upgrade
>>> Advisor is beta too. You probably should have removed Real Player
>>> and Zone Alarm especially before upgrading.
>>>
>>> Can you connect to a router by ethernet cable and forget wireless
>>> until you get straightened out? How about through a desktop with
>>> ICS? How about a friend's house to at least get activated?
>>>
>>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in
>>> message news:%23ywd9oBrGHA.4424@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>> Can anyone help?
>>>>
>>>> Kol
>>>>
>>>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in
>>>> message news:%23UwQYfPqGHA.4760@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>>> Upgrade, I currently don't have the capacity to do a clean install,
>>>>> though, yes I'm sure it's the best option.
>>>>>
>>>>> Kol
>>>>>
>>>>> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:uRm8$XPqGHA.4924@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>> Did you do a clean installation or an upgrade?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Kolin Tregaskes" <kolngNOSPAMPLEASE@tregaskes.co.uk> wrote in
>>>>>> message news:uA$ngSNqGHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I've been able to get logged in (after disabling UAP to
>>>>>>> authenticate Vista - do I need to enable this now?). I find
>>>>>>> everytime I log in that the Windows Wireless Service is not
>>>>>>> running. So I go to manage network connections, right-click and
>>>>>>> select diagnose on the connection set-up for my wireless router
>>>>>>> (which I had to set-up manually). Once I have started the
>>>>>>> Wireless Service, when I select to activate Vista it tells me
>>>>>>> that a change has occurred in my license and I need to restart.
>>>>>>> This happens every time. If I try and activate Vista before I
>>>>>>> start up the Wireless Service then it tries to connect without an
>>>>>>> error, but then, of course, I have to start it up and then get
>>>>>>> the license error (so basically stuck in a loop). I also receive
>>>>>>> a license error: 0XC004D401.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I cannot update Windows Update either. RealPlayer and ZoneAlarm
>>>>>>> don't run or work and I canot update Windows Defender.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> And I eventually receive an error telling me smss.exe has stopped
>>>>>>> and been closed.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kol
>>>>>>>
>
>