RPC Server unavailable

Windows XP Prof SP3
Computer had malware which I have removed using
CCleaner and MalwareBytes
Removed AVG free 8
Installed AVG free 2011 (System now appears Clean)
User complained that he could not connect to the internet. I found that the LAN adpater was not able to gain an IP address and the error after using IPCONFIG /RENEW was RPC Server unavailable. Also found there was no sound as a sound device was not found. When the computer starts I sometimes get an error with ICS not being started and do i want to start it? Say yes and that only error goes away. Have also noticed an error on startup under
Event Viewer\Application\Error - crypt32 (about 6 of them)
My guess is that these are all related to the RPC Server being unavailable. The frustrating thing is that after I try to fix the problem doing various things (inc sfc /scannow) and a restart it works including the sound. Another restart and it fails again. I have not toggled System Restore and feel this may be the problem. I am using the computer now to do this post. I have given it a fixed IP address. Any suggestions?

 

Hi TimW. Thanks for the suggestion but I have already found and tried Bob's suggestion. The result was the same as before. It works after the fix but then the same error comes back again. I think I am going to have to try turning off System restore, run sfc /scannow, and then turn System restore back on again. What do you think? Worth a try?

I have also toyed with the idea of uninstalling SP3 and then reinstalling it. The idea being that SP3 would update a lot of system files anyway. Any ideas on that one?

 

I love fixes like that I appreciate how he figured it out. I think I've done this before. I recall wanting to kiss that guy!

All those hours and just two lines saved me.

 

So I decided to try some things and here is what I did.
1. Turned off System restore
2. Turned off AVG Resident Scanner
3. Ran sfc /scannow
4. removed the fixed Ip Address and restarted
5. No Chnage
6. Removed Netgear Wireless Software/driver
7. restarted and it worked
I have shut down now and will start up again tomorrow and see if the fix holds. Will let you know the outcome.

 

Ok so I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I turned the computer back on the problem still exists. System restore is still turned off. Looks like I will have to try a repair of windows. Does any one have any better ideas?

 

You could try setting the XP Services back to defaults, check them at blackviper, also a registry patch there that might help.

 

Thank you for the Black Viper suggestion. I checked it out and tried the restoration of the services default settings in the registry. That did not work. Reviewing the forums seems to confirm my suspicion that only a windows repair will work. So, I guess that is the next step. I will post back here the results.