I was fiddling around with some registry auditing stuff on a NT4 SP6a computer, and now Computer Browser and Messenger don't start up when I load Windows. If I start them up manually using the Services applet, then they work fine. How can I get them to load at startup? Here's what the event log says: 2/10/02 6:09:04 AM Service Control Manager Error None 7024 N/A RHGIB628274 The Computer Browser service terminated with service-specific error 2184. 2/10/02 6:09:04 AM BROWSER Error None 8017 N/A RHGIB628274 The browser has failed to start because the dependent service LanmanWorkstation had invalid service status 1. Status Meaning 1 Service Stopped 2 Start Pending 3 Stop Pending 4 Running 5 Continue Pending 6 Pause Pending 7 Paused 2/10/02 6:09:03 AM Service Control Manager Error None 7024 N/A RHGIB628274 The Messenger service terminated with service-specific error 2138. 2/10/02 6:09:02 AM Service Control Manager Error None 7023 N/A RHGIB628274 The Workstation service terminated with the following error: The redirector is in use and cannot be unloaded. 2/10/02 6:08:35 AM SNMP Information None 1001 N/A RHGIB628274 The SNMP Service has started successfully. 2/10/02 6:08:17 AM Serial Warning None 5 N/A RHGIB628274 Unable to create the device map entry for COM1. 2/10/02 6:08:16 AM Parallel Warning None 17 N/A RHGIB628274 Unable to create the device map entry for \Device\Parallel0. 2/10/02 6:08:08 AM mssermou Error None 4 N/A RHGIB628274 The description for Event ID ( 4 ) in Source ( mssermou ) could not be found. It contains the following insertion string(s): \Device\PointerPort1. 2/10/02 6:08:08 AM mssermou Error None 24 N/A RHGIB628274 The description for Event ID ( 24 ) in Source ( mssermou ) could not be found. It contains the following insertion string(s): , Sermouse, \Device\PointerPort0.Translated. 2/10/02 6:07:44 AM EventLog Information None 6005 N/A RHGIB628274 The Event log service was started. 2/10/02 6:07:44 AM EventLog Information None 6009 N/A RHGIB628274 Microsoft (R) Windows NT (R) 4.0 1381 Service Pack 6 Uniprocessor Free. 2/10/02 6:08:08 AM mssermou Error None 24 N/A RHGIB628274 The description for Event ID ( 24 ) in Source ( mssermou ) could not be found. It contains the following insertion string(s): , mssermou, \Device\PointerPort1.Translated.

What I see here is that you have destroyed even the ability to boot correctly. I would scrap it and build it again. Next time before experimenting with the Registry, back it up first. This way you can just restore it if you run into this situation again.

That's a little pessimistic :) The computer boots and runs fine, just I have to close a couple warning dialogs when it loads, and I have to manually restart the services. Other than that, it's fine :)

Hoooo.:( i do not like the Service Control Manager Error thing here.this is the one that generates all the following errors. back up the registry before doing anything else,read Microsoft article Q244610 on http://support.microsoft.com for more infos,dont forget to re-apply your service pack. and dont forget to call wife...i think you might be late for dinner. : ) Cheers! Garreth.

Would deleting those "Protected Storage" keys fix it? I checked in the registry, and the Protected Storage key isn't missing.