PlugPlay service won't start

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

I'm using XP Pro on a laptop and I've run into a problem with the plug and
play service not starting. When I go into Services and try to start it I get
the following error: Could not start the Plug and Play service on Local
Computer. Error 3: The system cannot find the path specified.
I click on OK and it goes back to the Services screen.
When I go into Properties for the Plug and Play service I get another error
saying: Configuration Manager: The Plug and Play service or another required
service is not available. I click on ok and it opens the properties. In the
properties window the Path to the Executable line is missing and I have no
idea how to fix it.

Any ideas??

Thanks!

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

I checked the services.exe file and it is in the proper location. All
spyware has been removed from the computer using Adaware SE and Hijack This.
I ran a scan with the command you gave me, sfc /scannow, and it came back
with no problems.
Plug and play still doesn't work. Any other ideas? I've never seen this
problem before and I'm stumped.

Thanks!

"Thorsten Matzner" wrote:

> "Pete" <Pete@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I'm using XP Pro on a laptop and I've run into a problem with the plug and
> >play service not starting. When I go into Services and try to start it I get
> >the following error: Could not start the Plug and Play service on Local
> >Computer. Error 3: The system cannot find the path specified.
> >I click on OK and it goes back to the Services screen.
> >When I go into Properties for the Plug and Play service I get another error
> >saying: Configuration Manager: The Plug and Play service or another required
> >service is not available. I click on ok and it opens the properties. In the
> >properties window the Path to the Executable line is missing and I have no
> >idea how to fix it.
>
> Make sure that the SERVICES.EXE exists in the SYSTEM32 subfolder. You
> could also run a system fule check with the command
> SFC /scannow
> Also scan this machine for viruses and other malware.
> Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoft.de)
> "List of Antivirus Software Vendors"
> (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=49500)
>
> --
> (tm)
>