Windows Security Center: Windows Security Center service can’t be started (was no longer installed)

When trying to get the Windows Security Center (WSC) started on a Windows Vista machine after cleaning a virus infection we saw:

We looked for the service in Services.MSC with it nowhere to be found:

We ran sfc /scannow from an elevated command prompt:

The above did not work.

So we ran a registry Merge to try and bring it back:

• Microsoft Answers: Windows Security Center Service has been removed
• Note that we downloaded the file, Unblocked it, and opened it in NotePad to check out the contents. We then copied and pasted the content into a new NotePad window and saved that using the file name indicated above.

That did not work. The service did not reappear.

So, we followed the instructions located here:

• Microsoft Answers: Vista Home Premium Security Center Service is Missing
• Answer by Amritha was the key.

We paused the WMI service, deleted the Repository folder indicated, and rebooted. Note that the Repository folder did _not_ show up after we un-paused the WMI service. It showed up after the reboot.

We obviously still have some issues to work through but at least we have the Security Center back.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer