the dependency service or group failed to start

[mystvearn]

Hello,

I am using a Toshiba M50 laptop with Win XP pro. I tried to mount an external 3.5" IDE HD. I could not find the HD so I went to manage>disk management. When I click disk management, this message "the dependency service or group failed to start" comes out. After I click ok, I could not see the HD's in place. How to fix this? I want to mount external 3.5" hd's.

Thank you

[glc]

http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/809098.htm

[mystvearn]

Go to Start>Run and key in:
services.msc
Click on OK or hit ENTER

Scroll to locate Plug and Play and then double-click on it. Ensure that the
"Startup type" is set to Automatic and click on the Start button under
Service status. Click on OK.
Do the same as above for Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Logical Disk Manager
and Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service.

I did that, but ther RPC option for the automatic is greyed out. I still cannot see the drives in the Manage devices

[juppy]

The RPC is supposed to be greyed out.....they don't want it to be changed, because so many things depend on it. You should be able to see it set to Automatic even though it's greyed out. If it's set to Auto, it's fine.

As for your problem, did you check what was mentioned at the bottom of the page in glc's link? I mean the part about checking in your System32 directory to see if the file dmserver.dll is named that OR if it got renamed to dmserverxxx.dl. If yours has the 3 X's on the end of it, you might try renaming it back to it's original name and see if that helps.

If that's not it.....did you check in Event Viewer when it gives you that error message to see if EV shows exactly which service didn't kick in?

[giorgos]

Are logical disk manager and plug and play services running ?

[mystvearn]

The RPC is supposed to be greyed out.....they don't want it to be changed, because so many things depend on it. You should be able to see it set to Automatic even though it's greyed out. If it's set to Auto, it's fine.

As for your problem, did you check what was mentioned at the bottom of the page in glc's link? I mean the part about checking in your System32 directory to see if the file dmserver.dll is named that OR if it got renamed to dmserverxxx.dl. If yours has the 3 X's on the end of it, you might try renaming it back to it's original name and see if that helps.

If that's not it.....did you check in Event Viewer when it gives you that error message to see if EV shows exactly which service didn't kick in?

That is odd. I could not find and dmserver.dll or dmserverxxx.dll. What I can find is dmserversl.dll. I did try to do a search, but I could not find the files you mentioned either. Maybe i change that to dmserver.dll?

There are no error messages. The PnP devices are working, I can see the icon at the taskbar. I can "safely remove devices" as well. Only the drive letter is not registering. I tried it on another pc, and I could assess both drivers with the device manager tool.

[juppy]

A Google search didn't bring up any hits for a file with the name dmserversl.dll, and according to several sites, XP Pro is supposed to just have the file dmserver.dll, like was mentioned.

So, first thing I'd do is scan that dmserversl.dll file with an antivirus program and malware scanner, because from what I found, there IS a trojan with the name dmserver.dll too, just like the legitimate Windows file. If it comes back clean after the scans, you might try just renaming it to dmserver.dll and see if it'll work. If not, I'd try the system file checker. In case you don't know, that's the one where you go to the Run box in the Start menu and type in SFC /SCANNOW and click Okay (there's a space between the C and the / ). It *may* need your XP CD to verify some files, but not always. Might have it ready just in case though.

[mystvearn]

Sorry, its dmserveresl.dll. Forgot the 'e'. I changed the name, nothing odd happened.
http://www.threatexpert.com/files/dmserveresl.dll.html

I renamed it and the disk management works!

Thanks for the help

[juppy]

Cool, glad it's working again.
One thing you might do though....if it's been awhile since you ran any virus or malware scans, you might want to run those. It may be nothing, but I searched that other dmserveresl name you gave, with the "e" in it this time, and one of the links told about a possible trojan that renamed the dmserver.dll file to dmserveresl.dll as it's backup. If you *do* have that on your machine, it may rename that file again, so it would be a good idea to run some scans just to make sure something else isn't lurking on your hard drive that *may* have changed that in the first place. Glad the problem was found though! :)

[mystvearn]

I have used AVG and Spybot but could not find any errors. Also the file was not renamed back after I renamed it. Guess its a one off? Or maybe its due to my OEM windows XP

[juppy]

Could be just a one time thing then, yeah. We'll hope that's what it is. I guess as long as it keeps working and doesn't change back then maybe it's fixed. :)