Hello everyone,
The other day I was working on a Windows Vista computer and I noticed that the Network Icon in the Notification Area (two small blue monitors with a blue globe in front) was covered up by a red “X”.
This was an indication that the Network List Service (netprofm) was not working correctly. The Network List Service:
“Identifies the networks to which the computer has connected, collects and stores properties for these networks, and notifies applications when these properties change. This service in conjunction with Network Location Awareness enables status of network connections in the system tray. Since the SL UI Notification Service requires Network List Service to be functional, this service should not be disabled.”
I went into services.msc and I saw that the Network List Service was set to Automatic (as it should be), but was not running. All of the Network List Service dependencies were running fine, but try as I may I couldn’t automatically nor manually start the service. It would start for a moment and then shut down. It wouldn’t start up after a reboot either!
Then I found it! Here is the fix:
Click “Start” -> “Run” -> type “dcomcnfg” and enter -> find: Component Services/Computers/My Computer/DCOM Config/netprofm -> right click “netprofm” -> click “Properties” -> “Security” -> “Launch and Activition Permissions” changed to “Customize” -> click “Edit” button -> click “Add..” -> type “LOCAL SERVICE” as the object names, click “OK” -> in “Permissions for LOCAL SERVICE”, select “Allow” for “Local Launch” and “Local Activition” -> “OK” -> “OK”
Professor Randy says: Be patient when repairing computers and don’t give up! The “fix” is probably just “around the corner” and eventually you’ll discover it. That’s how you become a better tech!
11:22 am on January 21st, 2013 1
worked great.Thanks
12:25 pm on January 21st, 2013 2
Thanks for the positive comment Chris. Glad that the fix worked for you.
Best wishes,
Randy Knowles
6:34 am on February 10th, 2013 3
The exact solution. Been at this for a week until I read this and instant fix. Thank- you so much!
1:35 pm on July 25th, 2013 4
Great research and a great fix!
2:52 pm on December 26th, 2013 5
Worked like a charm. Thanks.
9:40 am on December 28th, 2013 6
Randy,
Any idea why the Network List Service stopped working?
12:56 am on February 6th, 2014 7
Thank you sooooooooo much! Worked great!
God Bless
3:21 pm on October 29th, 2014 8
didn’t work for me, got other suggestions?
6:13 am on December 2nd, 2014 9
I’m able to get to the Component Services, but once I click on Computers, the window freezes and there are no further drop downs. I think this Component service may be disabled like many others and I can’t manually start it (error 1053: The service did not respond to the stsrt or control request in a timely fashionl). Any ideas? Seems like one last major hurdle on my end.
1:52 am on February 9th, 2015 10
I have been fighting with this for months. I thought I had some super rootkit working. Now my HDD runs less! This is so Great. Good Job Prof Randy. You are my bookmark from here on out.
2:55 pm on September 17th, 2015 11
Thank you for the information, the fix worked great, I’ve been trying to fix this for months. Since my pc is so old I have to keep Vista and wanted this fixed.
4:53 am on December 30th, 2015 12
Scuze me but mine at security is grayed off and I’m hella tired lemee know.
9:45 am on June 22nd, 2017 13
Worked a treat!
11:57 pm on December 21st, 2017 14
Hi, My Options are all grayed out in properties. I can’t change a thing. How can I get permissions for that. I’m already an Admin.
Thanks!
11:46 am on January 30th, 2018 15
Thank you so much Randy! I went through so many different methods suggested on the Microsoft Answers pages and none of them worked. Managed to find your site and BOOM, worked liked a charm. I can’t thank you enough.
7:21 pm on May 6th, 2018 16
Thank you so much for this post, it was a lifesaver
9:18 am on August 13th, 2020 17
That is just f**king brilliant Randy, thank you so much and keep fighting the good fight!
9:59 pm on August 21st, 2020 18
Thanks Ian!