"The service database is locked". ?????

I have a PC here and the owner uses dial-up. (YIKES!). He complained of modem issues, so I uninstalled it from the WinXP Device Manager and rebooted. When the Hardware Wizard went to reload the driver, I got the error in this thread's title (see screen shot below). This an error I've never hard of before, but I'm researching it now. In the meantime, if any MG members have seen this particular problem and have an easy fix, please post!

 

What type of access do you have with this PC? I believe you have to have admin rights to add/remove hardware and software.

 

Try this:
http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/72406/jsi-tip-1081-the-services-database-is-locked.html

 

@ mccauslind: Thanks for the link.

It turned out that this system had many other issues, and was running SERVICE PACK ZERO!!!! No service pack. I guess when you're on dial-up, you don't do any updates. A service pack update on dial-up would probably error out before it successfully finished. Anyway, the more I poked around on this PC, the more errors, weird messages, and lockups occurred so I did a repair install and now all is well.
:-D

 

I keep all Service Packs on a flash drive. So far I have Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2003 Server, and MS ISA Server 2004 service packs. Nothing is more convenient when working on a machine that may not have high speed Internet access.

Actually, even when a machine does have high-speed, it takes way too long - compared to the time with a flash drive!

Just a suggestion... :cool

Dave