The Dependency Service or Group Failed to Start

In the past week, I encountered a curious problem on 2 clients' Windows Vista PCs.  The symptom are:

• A red "X" on the network icon in the tray displaying the pop message - Connection status: Unknown The dependency service or group failed to start
• The PC is able to see available wireless networks
• The PC connects to available wireless networks but the status is limited and cannot connect to the Internet
• Both systems are running Windows Vista and Trend Micro virus protection

I spent a lot of time researching this problem and found that the error message "The Dependency Service or Group Failed to Start" is a somewhat generic message addressing Windows services issues.  I also found that many Internet help sites are littered with tons of bad information on this issue.  I tried many of the 'fixes' without success.  Then I found a thread on Microsoft's TechNet Forum that correctly identified my clients' problem and offered a fix that worked.  So, I give credit to Terry Downing for the fix. It worked like a charm. 

The problem:  Trend Micro's virus protection is getting confused and mistakenly identifies a Windows file as being infected with a virus.  In its efforts to remove the supposed virus, it corrupts the Windows Network Location Awareness service.  This service collects and stores network configuration information for the network and notifies programs when this information is modified.  If this service is stopped, configuration information might be unavailable.  If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.  The Network List Service will not run when the Network Location Awareness service is disabled.  Hence, the error message that a dependency service failed to start.  The Network Location Awareness service is found in nlasvc.dll which is located in the system32 directory.

Above is a screenshot of the Services window in the Computer Management window with Network Location Awareness service highlighted.

The fix: The corrupted system file, nlasvc.dll, needs to be replaced with a working version of the file.  For your convenience, I have put a copy of it here.  Click on the link to download the file:

nlasvc.dll

If you need to delete or overwrite a system file in Windows Vista, you'll quickly notice that you cannot delete system files, even as administrator.  This is because Windows Vista's system files are owned by the TrustedInstaller service by default and Windows File Protection will keep them from being overwritten.  Thankfully, there's a way that you can get around this.  You need to take ownership of the files, and then assign yourself rights to delete or modify the file.  For this, we'll use the command line.

First, open an administrator command prompt by typing cmd into the start menu search box, and hit the Ctrl+Shift+Enter key combination.

To take ownership of the file, you'll need to use the takeown command.

At the command prompt type: takeown /f c:\windows\system32\nlasvc.dll

That will give you ownership of the file, but you still have no rights to delete, move and rename it.  Next, you need to run the cacls command to give yourself full control rights to the file:

At the command prompt type: cacls c:\windows\system32\nlasvc.dll /G your username:F

Make sure that you replace "your username" with your username exactly as it is spelled for the currently active user account on your computer.

At this point, you should be able to change the file.  Rename the file from nlasvc.dll to nlasvc.dll.old.  Next, copy the new source file that you downloaded from above to c:\windows\system32.

Once the file has been replaced you need to set the permissions back to its original state.  Locate nlasvc.dll in c:\windows\system32 in the Windows File Manager.  Right mouse button click on the file and choose Properties.

Click Security tab; Click Advanced button; Click Owner tab; Click Edit button; Click Other User or Group and type in NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller.

Press Ok on all dialogs until all property dialogs are closed.  Restart the PC and you should be back in business.

Please post a comment if this has been helpful to you.

Contact Info: info@consideritfixed.com

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Comments

[JeannieB]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I had to follow all of the above steps, also had to download and transfer per sd card and then cmd shift/ctrl/enter

netsh winsock reset catalog

And I'm back online!! Thank you thank you thank you!! :)

[jeff]

Thanks so much for your help...this worked just great on my daughter's computer

[LR]

I followed all the directions in the main article. It did not fix the problem yet.

Then I applied:
"open registry editor and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\NlaSvc.
Edit this key´s pemissions, adding user SYSTEM and giving Total Control to this user (add also local Administrators group with Total Control if not in the list)".

I also did:
"netsh winsock reset" in the cmd prompt run as adminstrator, and then rebooting the computer.

This worked wonderfully. Thank you to all who have made the suggestions.

[Dominic]

Amazing just amazing thank you so much for this post. It did the trick and i read it over the phone so my girlfriend could do it at home while i was at work and she understood the directions THANK YOU again

[Johnny]

For those who didn't solve the issue, this has worked for me after trying everything:

- open registry editor and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\NlaSvc. Edit this key´s pemissions, adding user SYSTEM and giving Total Control to this user (add also local Administrators group with Total Control if not in the list)
- start Network Location Awareness service

[Tim]

Didn't work for me. I still get the same error. Thanks for tying. I'm glad it worked for some.

[Colin Beckman]

HOW DO YOU REMAME THE FILE IN THE COMMAND WINDOW, I GOT PAST ALL THE REST THEN WAS STUMP

[Jennifer Lord]

This is what I get after this file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. create an association in the control associations something i have a migraine & cant think right now???? This is what I get after doing this

First, open an administrator command prompt by typing cmd into the start menu search box, and hit the Ctrl+Shift+Enter key combination.

To take ownership of the file, you'll need to use the takeown command.

At the command prompt type: takeown /f c:\windows\system32\nlasvc.dll

[Maia]

I'm on day three with this problem. I've tried dozens of things. If someone has suggested it on the internet, I've probably tried it. Nothing helps. My System Restore won't work. My firewalls are down. My DCHP client won't start. I can't connect to the internet. I don't have a Vista DVD or I would happily reinstall the whole thing. If I buy Windows 7, will that fix the problem? I'd be furious if I installed it and still had this evil error message.

[tenis supra]

I like you on facebook and follow through google reader!

[Nina]

Also for me I tried all the above and it did not work out...

Then and fortunately, also the reset option in CDM when run as admin worked perfectly.. thanks so much

use 'netsh winsock reset' in the cdm

[Andy P]

This has just worked for me, fantastic, well done and many thanks for posting.

[TomTom]

Unfortunately I have tried all your suggestions and it is still not working. I am running Vista, but use McAfee Total 2011.
When I checked the nlasvc.dll it was on automatic, but I could not start it manually, so I replaced the file etc. I still get the same message together with limited activity. I think the problem started after the latest Vista update (20.10.2011).

[lee bernstein]

netsh winsock reset WORKED!!
And I don't know almost anything about the behind the scenes working of a computer.
Lucky I found this site on my 1st try and zeroed into this solution.

[Karen]

so I'm an idiot but how do you download if you can't get connected? :) I copied file to a flashdrive and all went smoothly until I restarted then got the same error message. Am I to delete the .OLD file? Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Zia]

Thank you so much!!!!! Worked like a charm! You should get an award!

[kristina]

I opened cmd and typed it in and its saying "error: the current logged on user does not have ownership privileges on the file...."
I don't know if I'm doing it right. Please help.

[Melanie]

This worked! thank you.

[nathanb6424]

1. open an administrator command prompt (right click command prompt clicking run as admin
2. type netsh winsock reset in the command prompt and
3. reboot.

this worked for me
(mine still says connection unknown but im still connecting to my internet, luckly this a home pc) hope this helps

[Mohamed]

Thanks for that information. That was really helping.

[Karen]

Good instructions, although ctrl_shift_enter didn't work. I had to right click on command prompt in the accessories folder in order to continue as admin. Still internet is giving me a message that says that the error message could not be found! Weird. I am going to start again and put everything back the way it was.

[RuRu]

Your site is a dream...you have no idea how many machines i run into with this issue. Did need to add the netsh winsock reset set to resolve but all worked like a dream thank you again

[Juan]

everything was fine, following instructions until.....How do I download the new file from Internet?

[Bill Fogle]

Folowed every step carefully. It didn't work.

[Vicki]

I carefully worked through the recommended steps and managed to drop in the new .dll file after renaming the old one, but rebooting yielded no improvement. The error is still happening. Fortunately, I can connect to the internet, but "the dependency group or service fail[s] to start."

[Howard]

Does this work for Windows 7?

[Merlin]

Great..its worked perfectly, thanks

[Mandy]

After literally over 9 hours of this issue and following EVERY option I found through Google... I am laughing at myself! What I would do first NOW is to make sure all services needed for WLAN AutoConfig are running! (Running Vista)The services I need running are: Extensible Authentication Protocol, CNG Key Isolation, Remote Procedure Call, DCOM Server Process Launcher, and WLAN AutoConfig.

Good luck!

[ryan]

Hi, I followed everything to a "T" but nothing worked. Then I tried a simple system restore and now I'm back in business!

[Bhaskar]

Thanks for this valuable posts,it worked perfectly.

[William]

Im having trouble, im getting the message - ERROR: The current logged on user does not have ownership privileges on the file "c:\windows\system32\nlasvc.dll"

[James]

I can't open the cmd as administrator - the same error message comes up! argh!

[zhang jing]

thank you so much. It worked after the netsh winsock reset cmd. Really appreciate your help on this.

[Alan]

If you're having an invalid perm your username might have spaces in it. Put quotations around your username.

C:\windows\system32\nlasvc.dll /G "my username has at least one space":F

To rename at the DOS prompt:
C:\Windows\System32>rename nlasvc.dll nlasvc.dll.old

[Colin]

Thank you!!! I missed the step about the 'netsh winsock reset' but after I typed that in it worked fine. It even seemed to speed up my girlfriend netbook overall. Great post, thanks again.

[nick]

how do i change the name of the file? to dll.old???

[Trevor]

Great info. Worked like a charm exactly as you had it spelled out. No issues with your instructions. Thanks a ton for sharing.

[Husam]

typing "netsh winsock reset" in the adminstrator cmd prompt, and then rebooting the computer, worked like a charm!!!

Thanks alot everyone, and special thanks for taking the time and typing the post :)

[Help]

Hammy, there is a space between NT and Service

[Hammy]

Just follow the instruction plus netsh winsock reset... you can do it!

[Gary]

Please help me.

When i Type NTSERVICE\TrustedInstaller and Ok,

it tell me - The following object is not from a domain listed in the Select Location dialog box and is therefore not valid: NTSERVICE\TrustedIntsaller

What should i do to solve this?

[Tracie]

Thank you so much! It worked. I did exactly what you said in the post and followed what Colin did in regards to typing: netsh winsock reset in the command prompt and restarting my computer. I did change the nlasvc.dll to nlasvc.dll.old.
I am so glad I found this blog...
I hope this stays working now :)

[Colin]

What changes to this fix would exist on a Windows 7 system?

[Samawala]

It work great for me. Just follow the original post above.
Then type: netsh winsock reset in the command prompt and restart your computer.

I think typing: " netsh winsock reset " did the job for me.

Basically, you have reset network back to original state. I did not even have to change the nlasvc.dll to nlasvc.dll.old.

It work try it. Thanks.

[Ewan]

netsh winsock reset - perfect thanks

[YT Cheng]

Thanks a lot. It finally works.
I started with replacing nlasvc.dll and reboot but did not work. However, I decided to use "netsh winsock reset" in the normal cmd prompt and reboot but still did not work. So I decided to:
1. open an administrator command prompt by typing cmd into the start menu search box, and hit the Ctrl+Shift+Enter key combination.
2. type netsh winsock reset in the command prompt and
3. reboot.
Thanks Buddha, it works!
And Thanks to all people who share your kind methods.

[tl]

Thanks so much for the help! It worked! netsh winsock reset really is the charm at the end.

[a]

my problem is big i cannot even open my cmd

[herbie]

Thank you all so much! The detail instructions at the top took me 3 attempts for it to finally work. But it worked...so that is all that matters.

[mark]

it worked!
just make sure to turn on the proper services that were initially turned off