User Login

Help Community Login:

Windows Security Center Service is missing and won't start! - [SOLVED]

15 replies [Last post]
gec721's picture
gec721
Welcome, Unverified New GeekDropper!I use Internet ExplorerWindows User
Relationship Status:
Single & Looking
Joined: 09/30/2010
Posts: 4
Drops: 12
Mood: Accomplished

I recently had a run in with the Windows 7 Internet Security 2012 MalwareMalwarebytes Anti-virus / Anti-malware and now I have a red x in my status bar tray, clicking it shows the Action Center saying "The Windows Security Center Service can't be started". After Googling for hours all that I was able to find about this was to press Windows Key + R, type in "services.msc", look for "Security Center" in the list, and set it's Startup Type to "Automatic (Delayed)".

My problem is that there is NO Security Center in my list of services to even SET to Automatic (Delayed). It's completely missing from the list! I have also seen them say to type "sfc /scannow" in a command prompt with elevated administration privileges to run the system file checker, but that just said "did not find any integrity violations". So i came here under recommendation of a high level tech geek at my work. I hope you can help! Sad

Windows Security Center Service Can't Be Started - Missing
I Averaged: 4 | 5 votes


Read More ...





Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
STaRDoGG's picture
From:
Olympus
STaRDoGG
Head Mucky MuckJoined the Dark SidePremium Member (Gold)I'm a Code Monkey!The Steel CurtainI use FirefoxI use Google ChromeI use Internet ExplorerI use SafariLinux UserMac UserWindows UserI donated to GeekDrop simply because I love it!Booga Booga BoogaI took a bite of the AppleFormer Phrozen Crew MemberI'm MagicMember of VileThe Dr. put the stem on the apple!The JokerSomeone thinks you're udderly delightful!
Relationship Status:
Single & Not Looking
Joined: 01/14/2009
Posts: 2622
Drops: 3109
Mood: Energetic
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing - SOLUTION

Just for reference, here's a screenshot of the Security Center / Action Center being discussed in this thread:

 
Windows Security Center / Action Center - Service Missing
 

The Solution:

You'll need to re-add the registry keys that the virus deleted. Fortunately, this is easy. I've whipped up a couple of .reg files so it's just a 2 second job.

 

Instructions:

  1. If you're running a 32-Bit version of Windows extract the wscsvc.reg from the (x32) .zip file, OR
    If you're on a 64-Bit version of Windows extract the one from the (x64) .zip file

  2. Simply double-click on the wscsvc.reg file

  3. Accept any dialog boxes asking if you're sure whether you want to do this

  4. Reboot your computer

  5. Upon reboot the Security Center Service will have been added back and already set to "Automatic (Delayed)" Startup Mode. Smile

 
 

Here's the file to download: Missing Windows Security Center Fix

 

Also, if you're fighting with the Windows 7 Internet security Virus be sure to see our solution here: Windows 7 Internet security Virus Easy Fix



Shhh.. dont tell anyone, but we also have a private forum area with the really good stuff, see?

smithone3's picture
smithone3
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing - SOLUTION

thanks you so much been at this for 4 hours within a few minutes of reading your page my security system is up and running.

martin.langan8's picture
martin.langan8
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing - SOLUTION

thankyou so much was going crazy ,your a genius thanks once again .ps do you have a solution to security in vista 64 i mean a good virus or MalwareMalwarebytes Anti-virus / Anti-malware solution .kind regards m t langan

STaRDoGG's picture
From:
Olympus
STaRDoGG
Head Mucky MuckJoined the Dark SidePremium Member (Gold)I'm a Code Monkey!The Steel CurtainI use FirefoxI use Google ChromeI use Internet ExplorerI use SafariLinux UserMac UserWindows UserI donated to GeekDrop simply because I love it!Booga Booga BoogaI took a bite of the AppleFormer Phrozen Crew MemberI'm MagicMember of VileThe Dr. put the stem on the apple!The JokerSomeone thinks you're udderly delightful!
Relationship Status:
Single & Not Looking
Joined: 01/14/2009
Posts: 2622
Drops: 3109
Mood: Energetic
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing - SOLUTION
Guest wrote:

do you have a solution to security in vista 64 i mean a good virus or MalwareMalwarebytes Anti-virus / Anti-malware solution

Very happy we could help. For MalwareMalwarebytes Anti-virus / Anti-malware / antivirus I personally use Avast! Internet Security, and MalwareBytesMalwarebytes Anti-virus / Anti-malware as an on-demand scanner (a sort of "second opinion"). Avast! has a free version and a subscription version, both are good but speaking just for myself, I use the full subscription version.



Shhh.. dont tell anyone, but we also have a private forum area with the really good stuff, see?

martin.langan8's picture
martin.langan8
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing - SOLUTION

 thankyou my man for the speedy reply ill check the sugestions out 

Dennis Freeman's picture
Dennis Freeman
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing - SOLUTION

 Thank you so much. Really appreciate that complete fix.

olgarosino's picture
olgarosino
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing and won't ...

Thanks a lot, it did work. Got service center back :-)

blu99's picture
blu99
Relationship Status:
Married
Joined: 06/06/2013
Posts: 0
Drops: 1
Mood: Drained
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing and won't ...

I'm having the same problem and tried to download your zip file but then couldn't open it because it said there wasn't a program associated with it.
Please help!!!!!

STaRDoGG's picture
From:
Olympus
STaRDoGG
Head Mucky MuckJoined the Dark SidePremium Member (Gold)I'm a Code Monkey!The Steel CurtainI use FirefoxI use Google ChromeI use Internet ExplorerI use SafariLinux UserMac UserWindows UserI donated to GeekDrop simply because I love it!Booga Booga BoogaI took a bite of the AppleFormer Phrozen Crew MemberI'm MagicMember of VileThe Dr. put the stem on the apple!The JokerSomeone thinks you're udderly delightful!
Relationship Status:
Single & Not Looking
Joined: 01/14/2009
Posts: 2622
Drops: 3109
Mood: Energetic
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing and won't ...

Another easy fix Smile Just download & install 7-Zip and then you can open / extract our files.



Shhh.. dont tell anyone, but we also have a private forum area with the really good stuff, see?

Ki113R's picture
Ki113R
Welcome, Unverified New GeekDropper!I use Google ChromeI use SafariWindows User
Relationship Status:
Single & Looking
Joined: 06/07/2013
Posts: 3
Drops: 3
Mood: Amused
Re: Windows Security Center Service is missing and won't ...

Jester Hello to All,

I recently had the same problem where "Microsoft Security Centre" was switched off and could not be restarted, and after a little head scratching, these are my findings and a safe and practical solution to the problem.

  • Firstly - head to this web page and download "Autoruns" from the "Windows Sysinternals" webpage.
  • Next - go to this web page and download new copy of "Microsoft Security Essentials" (links to Both programs are genuine microsoft downloads)

Now we have the necessary programs , we are ready to go.

  • Firstly, open start menu and type "services.msc" into search bar
  • right click on the entry for "Microsoft Security Essentials" that should appear and DELETE it
  • Now open and install the "Autoruns" package you downloaded , Run it , and look for a "Windows logon" entry for "Windows Security Essentials" ( TIP:- look for the logo !) What you will find is that the Registry entry has been altered and coded, so it will tell "Windows" to first "Disable" the Registry entry , and then "Hide" the disabled Registry entry so that it will not get picked up. Very Sneaky!!!!!
  • Make Sure the small checkbox to the left of the "Autoruns" entry has a tick in it, to ensure the entry is "Active" then- Right Click on entry and Delete it. (you can only delete "Active" Registry keys)
  • Now , Reboot your computer
  • and then, Open and Install the new copy of "Microsoft Security Essentials" you downloaded and problem should be sorted , without having to resort to, Re-installing windows. Cool

Please Note:- Because the Registry entry is altered it has a different Registry "Address" and so , as I found out , simply adding Registry Keys or Trying to run Diagnostics dont work , as essentially "Windows" does not "See" the problem as the keys are "Registered" correctly , but, misconfigured so as to prevent you from simply Re-installing "Microsoft Security Essentials" every time I tried in fact, because the keys were there, but were "De-activated" I kept getting the message:- "You can only have one instance of this program installed on your system, try uninstalling previous version and try again"

The problem at that point of course, being the fact I could not find the Program!!! as it had been removed when the Registry keys were altered, and , apart from a start-up, (Windows Logon) entry ,it did not exist anymore the only reason the start-up entry was left was to create a "loop" to confuse the system and prevent detection. (its why you deleted this entry at the start of tutorial)

I hope this Write up is helpful to all who need assistance with this problem , And would like to point out that "Autoruns" as far as I am aware is compatible with all versions of Windows, even XP . and , is a very handy program to keep on your system , you would be surprised how many programs and applications, that get loaded at Windows boot time, are not needed, they simply run at "idle" in the background quietly hogging valuable resources that slow your system down. This is especially true for XP as by modern standards its slow on a good day, especially if it is running on old hardware (try it on a 64bit machine and wow what a difference!) Resources are best loaded only as and when required by your system , the problem being that every program that you download wants to start with your operating system boot-up and so adds a start menu entry.

Next time you have a problem like this, Run "Autoruns" and check what is running at boot time, this is where 99.9% of unpleasant and annoying "Hacks" live, this is why your anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Anti-virus / Anti-malware, or anti-virus asks if it can run at boot time!

Regards , Ki113R

Who's New

metaclippingpath's picture
Generalocee's picture
emma agro's picture
DarkkDdream's picture
Larisabrownb's picture
conor13's picture
MeadeDorianx's picture
Emilylowes's picture
Emmaythomson's picture
Chair's picture
Financial's picture
Red bud's picture
DonnaStella123's picture
WenrichFeugene's picture
Weissert's picture
facebook codes exploits tips tricks Phrozen Crew
All contents ©Copyright GeekDrop™ 2009-2024
TOS | Privacy Policy