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Error 1067 means Windows tried to start a service, but the service process terminated unexpectedly. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis: a damaged service file, bad configuration, failed dependency, account problem, third-party application, or Windows corruption can all lead to it. The service’s name—and the evidence around its failed start—determines the right fix.
Before changing settings, note the service name and check Event Viewer for an application crash or a more specific error. Avoid deleting registry keys or changing services to Automatic as generic fixes. The steps below start with diagnosis and move from targeted repairs to Windows recovery only when necessary.
What Error 1067 means
The message commonly reads: “Windows could not start the [service name] service on Local Computer. Error 1067: The process terminated unexpectedly.” The service may crash while initializing or start and then stop. The number does not identify one broken Windows component, and the same error can affect built-in Windows services or services installed by applications.
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Start by identifying the service and capturing the error
- Press Win + R, enter
services.msc, and press Enter. - Find the service that fails. Open its Properties and record its display name, internal service name, startup type, Log On account, and Path to executable. Check the Dependencies tab too.
- Note when the error happens: when you start the service manually, during startup, or while opening a particular app or feature.
The display name is the friendly label shown in Services. Commands such as sc.exe query need the internal service name, which may differ. Do not assume that changing the startup type will repair a crashing executable: startup type controls when Windows tries to start the service, not whether its program can run.
Check Event Viewer
- Right-click Start and choose Event Viewer.
- Open Windows Logs > System and inspect events at the time of the failed start, especially those from Service Control Manager.
- Also check Windows Logs > Application, Applications and Services Logs, and any logs provided by the affected product.
Look for an application crash, faulting module, exception code, access-denied message, missing file, bad path, timeout, or earlier dependency error. The event immediately before the 1067 message—or an Application Error naming a program or DLL—may be more informative than the service dialog itself.
Query the service from an administrator Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as administrator. Replace ServiceName with the internal name you recorded:
sc.exe query ServiceName
sc.exe qc ServiceName
sc.exe queryex ServiceName
sc.exe enumdepend ServiceNamesc.exe query reports the service state and exit-status fields; sc.exe qc shows configuration such as the binary path, dependencies, startup setting, and service account. sc.exe queryex provides extended status information, while sc.exe enumdepend lists services that depend on the named service. You can attempt a start with sc.exe start ServiceName. A command-line error may be more specific than the Services dialog, but pair it with Event Viewer because it may not reveal the cause of an application crash.
Microsoft documents the sc.exe query command and sc.exe qc configuration output. Do not change a binary path, dependency, account, or registry value just because it looks unfamiliar: vendors may use product-specific settings.
Match the repair to the evidence
If one third-party service fails
Examples include services installed by VPNs, antivirus products, printers, databases, backup software, audio utilities, game launchers, and anti-cheat tools. Check that product’s own logs and verify the executable path in Services or the BINARY_PATH_NAME field from sc.exe qc.
Check whether the file exists, whether the path points to an uninstalled application, and whether a path containing spaces is quoted correctly. Look for an unavailable drive or network location, a recently changed installation directory, or an executable in an unexpected temporary or user-profile folder. Do not run an unfamiliar file to test it; verify its publisher and digital signature. If a service uses a DLL, a damaged service-DLL setting may also be involved.
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Use the product’s Repair or Modify option, maintenance installer, or official update first. If its service executable or DLL is missing or damaged, follow the vendor’s documented cleanup and reinstall procedure. Do not copy service files from another PC: versions and configuration can differ. Before uninstalling, preserve license or activation details, backups, and any configuration you need.
If a dependency is stopped
In the service’s Properties > Dependencies tab, identify required services. You can also review the DEPENDENCIES field from sc.exe qc ServiceName. Investigate the stopped dependency’s own Properties and Event Viewer entries, troubleshoot that service first, then retry the original one. Windows starts dependent services according to configured relationships; see Microsoft’s guidance on service startup and dependencies.
Do not set every stopped service to Automatic or enable everything listed. Some services are demand-start or trigger-start by design. Changing startup settings without knowing the service’s purpose can cause boot delays, conflicts, or security exposure.
If several built-in Windows services fail
Restart the PC first. If the issue persists across Windows components, or Event Viewer points to damaged protected system files, run DISM and then SFC from an elevated Command Prompt:
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- “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.” SFC found no protected-file corruption. Continue with service-specific diagnosis.
- “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.” Restart Windows and test the service.
- Corrupt files were found but some could not be fixed. Review the CBS log, then consider an appropriate repair source, System Restore, or an in-place repair.
- SFC could not perform the requested operation. Microsoft suggests trying the scan in Safe Mode.
If DISM cannot obtain repair files through Windows Update, it may need a valid installation repair source. The following is a template, not a ready-to-use path:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccessReplace the placeholder with a valid source matching your installed Windows edition and version. An arbitrary ISO or another PC’s Windows folder is not a universally safe source; consult Microsoft’s repair-source guidance.
If the failure followed an update, driver, or installation
Restart and check whether Windows has a pending restart. If the timing closely follows a newly installed driver, application, antivirus, VPN, printer package, or Windows update, use the relevant rollback or uninstall option where available. For a third-party product, try its repair option before resorting to Windows-wide changes.
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If a third-party conflict is possible
A clean boot can help isolate interference from third-party services or startup applications, particularly after installing security software, a device utility, a VPN, a driver, or game anti-cheat software:
- Press Win + R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. - On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then disable the remaining third-party services temporarily.
- On the Startup tab, open Task Manager and temporarily disable relevant third-party startup items.
- Restart and test the affected service. If it works, re-enable items in groups to narrow down the conflict.
- Restore normal startup and re-enable settings you changed when testing is complete.
Do not disable Microsoft services indiscriminately. Record the changes so you can reverse them. If the clean boot isolates a product, update, repair, or remove that product using its vendor’s instructions rather than leaving security protections disabled.
If the logs suggest disk or file-system errors
When Event Viewer reports I/O errors or file corruption, or the issue followed an unexpected shutdown, you can check the Windows drive from an administrator Command Prompt:
chkdsk /f C:If prompted, schedule the check for the next restart. The drive letter may differ in some recovery environments. Back up important data before running repairs if physical drive failure is suspected; CHKDSK is not a backup and cannot protect data on a failing drive. Check the drive manufacturer’s diagnostic utility or Windows storage-health information as appropriate. Microsoft includes CHKDSK guidance in Windows troubleshooting material.
If the service path or behavior looks suspicious
A service pointing to an unfamiliar executable, carrying an unexpected publisher, or failing after security protection was disabled may indicate unwanted software or tampering. Run an appropriate Microsoft Defender full or offline scan, and disconnect from the network if active malware is suspected. Do not download replacement DLLs from random sites or treat registry-cleaner software as malware removal. For a business PC or one containing sensitive data, preserve logs and consult an administrator or reputable incident-response provider.
Why registry deletion is not a general fix
Service configuration is stored under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServices, but deleting or importing a key can remove required configuration or make Windows unusable. Do not delete a service key as a generic Error 1067 repair, and do not import one from another PC: service entries vary by Windows build, edition, installed components, drivers, security software, and architecture.
Consider a registry edit only when the exact service and Windows version are known, Microsoft or the software vendor documents the precise repair, you have a full backup or restore point, and you understand how to reverse the change. A service-specific recommendation—for example, one addressing a damaged Fax installation—does not apply to services generally. Also, Windows 10 version 1803 and later do not generally populate automatic registry backups in C:WindowsSystem32ConfigRegBack by default. Do not assume those files are usable; check for valid backups first. Microsoft discusses registry recovery and other startup-repair options in its Windows boot troubleshooting guidance.
If Windows will not boot or targeted repairs fail
If one service is the only problem, reinstalling Windows is usually disproportionate: identify whether the service belongs to Windows or an application, then repair that component. If several built-in services fail, DISM and SFC cannot repair Windows, and System Restore is unavailable or unsuccessful, consider an in-place repair installation that preserves files and applications where supported. Reset or clean installation is a more disruptive escalation. Back up data and confirm application licenses before proceeding.
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If Windows will not boot, use Windows Recovery Environment rather than repeatedly editing the live registry. Depending on the failure, recovery choices may include Startup Repair, System Restore, offline SFC, DISM image repair, or installation media. In the recovery environment, first confirm the Windows drive letter before using an offline SFC command such as:
sfc /scannow /offbootdir=OsDrive: /offwindir=OsDrive:WindowsReplace OsDrive: with the actual drive letter identified in recovery; it may not be C:. See Microsoft’s guidance on boot failures and offline repair and its overview of recovery options. Get vendor or professional help if a business-critical service is affected, multiple services fail, malware is suspected, the disk reports errors, or the PC cannot boot.
Windows 10 support status
These troubleshooting steps apply to Windows 10, but Microsoft ended regular Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. A PC may continue to run after that date, but regular security updates are no longer generally provided for the operating system. If your hardware and licensing permit, plan a move to a supported Windows release; enterprise or paid extended-support arrangements have separate conditions. Check Microsoft’s Windows end-of-support information for details. Menu names and recovery choices can vary by Windows build, edition, and organization policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Error 1067 a virus?
Not by itself. It means the service process terminated unexpectedly. Malware is one possible cause if the executable path or publisher looks suspicious, so investigate those clues and scan the PC when warranted.
Does SFC always fix Error 1067?
No. SFC can repair some protected Windows files, but it cannot repair every cause, such as a broken third-party application, invalid credentials, a missing dependency, or failing hardware.
Is Error 1067 the same as Error 1068?
No. Error 1067 reports that a service process terminated unexpectedly. Error 1068 reports a dependency service or group failure, although a dependency problem can contribute to a service failure.
Can I delete the service from the registry?
Not as a general fix. Deleting a service key can remove required configuration or make Windows unusable. Only use a precisely documented service-specific procedure with a backup and a clear way to reverse it.
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Why does the service start and then stop?
It may crash during initialization because of a missing or damaged file, a configuration or permission problem, a failed dependency, or an application-specific fault. Check Event Viewer and the product’s own logs for the underlying evidence.
What if the service is missing?
If it belongs to a third-party product, use the vendor’s repair or reinstall procedure. For a Windows service, confirm that the feature or component is installed and use Windows repair options rather than importing a service key from another PC.
What if DISM or SFC fails?
Check the exact message and try the appropriate documented recovery path. SFC may need Safe Mode; DISM may need a valid repair source matching the installed Windows edition and version. If repairs still fail, consider System Restore or an in-place repair after backing up.
Can I fix this without reinstalling Windows?
Often, yes. Many cases can be addressed by repairing the affected application, resolving a dependency or configuration issue, rolling back a recent change, or repairing Windows files. Reinstalling Windows is an escalation, not the first step.
Does this apply to Windows 11?
The service-first diagnostic approach and many commands also apply to Windows 11, but menus and recovery options may differ. This article’s support-status note is specifically about Windows 10.
Is Windows 10 still supported?
Microsoft ended regular Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Some enterprise or paid extended-support arrangements may have separate terms; check Microsoft’s current end-of-support information.
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