[This is Part 1 of a two part problem. You can see the description and solution for the second issue which was no audio during and after the part 1 solution was completed. See Part 2 here.]
I ran into this issue a couple of weeks ago and eventually threw my hands up. Today, I came across the exact same symptoms on another computer so I decided to dig further in and find the cause. After successfully discovering the problem and applying the solution to the first problematic computer, I was able to fix the issue without reloading/refreshing the PCs.
I looked all over the web and was unable to find any mention of this problem with a valid resolution. Most things I found suggested running SFC /SCANNOW which refused to run. I also tried some other repair tools, most of which failed or wouldn’t complete.
In determining the problem and discovering a solution, one of the PCs actually had a 2nd problem with a similar solution regarding audio on the computer. No audio due to “Audio Service not started”. The service fails to start and an error is logged in event viewer that says the reason is “duplicate endpoint”. I’ll post the resolution for the audio problem in a separate post.
Sympomps
Here are the symptoms I was seeing to confirm that you are seeing the same problem as I have:
- Control Panel fails to load. You can get a white explorer box, but the window hangs. It can’t be resized, moved or closed without forcing explorer.exe to close. After that, Control Panel usually won’t load anything at all–not even a white frozen box.
- Lots and lots of repeated Service Control Manager errors from the service “Network List Service”. The reason for the failure to start is “Procedure not found”
- The Network Connection Broker service is stuck in the Starting state.
- Office 2013 programs hang while launching
Resolution
Method 1 (Automatic)
You can download my registry exports included at the end of Part 2 to avoid having to edit the registry. Just download the appropriate .REG file and then double click the file in your downloads list to import the registry key. No knowledge needed.
Method 2 (Manual)
- Open regedit.exe
- Navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\netprofm\Parameters - Check the value of ServiceDLL, it should be exactly as follows:
%SYSTEMROOT32%\System32\netprofmsvc.dll(See update note below)
- If it is not, change it to match the above value.
- After making changes, reboot the system and look for the symptoms again.
UPDATED 3/13/2015: Stephen G. commented below about the environment variable being incorrect. At first I thought this was due to 32/64-bit system differences, but I believe I simply added the 32 in %SYSTEMROOT32% accidentally as I do not believe that %SYSTEMROOT32% is a valid path on any Windows operating system. Please verify that there is NOT a 32 in the variable as this will still be an incorrect path. Just ensure the corrected value is in place. Sorry for the type-o.
Great job Josh! I’m a DOS 3.0/Windows NT veteran and I know it must have taken you many Microsoft minutes to find this cure. Respect!
Adding evidence to the case against AVG: the system I was able to fix using your information also has AVG installed. Also, like Victor Bien, I noticed that the incorrect settings for these two keys (on Win 8) are in fact correct for Win 7. It seems AVG is trying to “fix” the registry thinking it’s running on Win 7.
I don’t think AVG is as much of problem as opined here, well at least their current “CloudCare” version. I have thirteen copies of this security software installed on 10 Win 8.1 Pro laptops and 3 Vista desktops in the small NGO in my care. Only the one laptop I discussed above struck the problem this blog site is about. As I mentioned I thought the one that did strike trouble probably had a filesystem which was not clean when Windows Update went through. As discussed, I thought that was what was responsible for the upset.
Thanks josh for this great post. Helped me out a lot.
I can confirm this was affecting a machine that had AVG installed…
I had all 3 issues, all worked for me first time. Thank you!
Oops! Not “The Network Connection Broker service is stuck in the Starting state” 🙂
my son had the control panel and audio problem and was on the verge of resetting everything. I told him to wait and I came across your article. I fixed the registry as per your instructions and in 5 minutes all was fixed. THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!!! YOU ARE AWESOME!
Great fix!! I’ve got those problems after I did restart after a MS Windows 8.1 update. When I booted into windows i had no internet connection, my control panel freezes blank, and also the audio problem occurred. (When windows 8.1 was booted I did got only a popup window that Pokki start menu was updated)
Thnx for finding and sharing this solution.
THANK YOU ARE A COMPUTER SAVER
Thank you!
Just started the computer this morning and the audio was off and I couldn’t access the control panel! Changing the registery fixed the problem and everything is now back to normal! You’re a life saver!
Got two problems fixed (audio and control panel) in 5 minutes.
Donated a fiver and added this link in my favorite toolbar as Windows 8.1 has been a nightmare so far.
Thanks a mil….
Thank you Freeworm. I appreciate your generosity.
Thank you times a million dude! Total lifesaver. Perfect directions, as well.
Thanks so much. I downloaded the combined reg file and rebooted the system. The sound came back to life. Thank you
Thank you. You saved me some rands. Worked for me. God Bless !!!
Hi there;
I’ve been having this issue for quite a while, thinking there was no fix. Thanks to your simple solution everything is back to normal.
YOU ARE A LEGEND!!!!
Lifesaver! Been searching for a solution and trying on my own for hours.
With your simple fix, my problem is gone. Love u!
Thank you very much! I’ve been having these problems since last MS Windows 8.1 update and you save me…thanks a lot!
Hey Josh! Just wanted to say a HUGEEEE THANK YOUUUUUUU!!!! saved my day! Thanks for explaining evrything step by step very simple and yet effective, I am no techy and therefore just downloaded the reg attached to your second part ….just so glad people like exist!
Big Love from Dubai
Thanks josh for this article it really helps me a lot
Cannot thank you enough for coming up with the fixes to the hanging control panel and no sound. About a year ago I started having these problems and have tried many, many possible solutions to no avail. I must have finally asked the right question to get to your solutions. I just finished doing the regedit for both problems. This allowed me to download the updated driver to my sound and all problems have been fixed!!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!
Josh, wanted to say thank you from keeping my fist from going through this computer screen. You have been the only resource in the entire matter, and everything is finally working as it should. Can not thank you enough. Keep up the Great Work. Thanks
-Aidan
Thank you very much. My first experience with the Registry, so, I was very nervous, but your links made it easy – and fixed the problems.
Thank you so much for this, I checked with some other sources and they all wanted to charge me a good deal of money to fix this. Part 2 helped me fix this frustrating error. Good luck everyone.