How to Fix “The Remote Procedure Call Failed” Error in Windows 7 and Windows Vista Computers?

Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is an important protocol based on the client-server model, where multiple client devices make an attempt to connect to a server and retrieve data from it. If you are using Windows Vista/Windows 7 server-based computer and have received "The remote procedure call failed” error, then it means that a few important system files are not working properly. Thus, you need to scan your machine completely with the help of advanced troubleshooting steps. Read this article to know more about the error and learn some advanced troubleshooting steps to fix the problem.

Causes of the Error

1.    Incorrect allocation of registry files can show you “The Remote Procedure Call Failed error.

2.    If the remote procedure calls service has not yet started.

Resolution

Troubleshoot Method One:

1. Go to the ‘Start’ button.
2. Type ‘services.msc’ in the search dialog box.
3. Hit ‘Enter.’
4. Now look for the ‘Remote procedure call service’ and scroll down to it in Services.
5. Now check and ensure that the status says "Started" and set to automatic.
6. Make sure that second ‘RPC Locater’ should be set up to ‘Manual.’

Restart your device and check if the problem got fixed or not. If not, then perform a clean boot to fix the problem.

A clean boot is a process that helps you to start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and start programs. A clean boot will help you to reduce software conflicts that mostly occur when you update or install a new program in Windows 7 or Windows Vista. You can easily determine the conflict that causes the problem with the help of clean boot.

Read the below mentioned steps to perform a clean boot:

Troubleshoot Method One: 

1. Log on to the computer as an ‘Administrator.’
2. Click ‘Start.’
3. Type ‘msconfig.exe’ in the search box.
4. Hit ‘Enter.’
5. Windows will show you the ‘System Configuration Utility.’
6. Now click on the ‘General tab.’
7. Click the ‘Selective startup’ option.
8. Now click to clear all the ‘Load startup items’ checkbox.
9. Now go to the ‘Services tab.’
10. Then select ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ check box.
11. Then click ‘Disable all.’
12. Click ‘OK.’
13. Then click ‘Restart.’

Restart your computer and check and confirm whether the problem has got fixed or not. If not, then you can run ‘Microsoft Security Essentials’ tool to fix the issue. ‘Microsoft Security Essentials’ is the free security tool from ‘Microsoft that helps you to remove infections, spyware, viruses and other unwanted programs. It will work easily along with your existing security software.

You can easily download ‘Microsoft Security Essentials’ tool from the official ‘Microsoft’ website. You can run the software on your own with the help of guidelines that will be available on the official website. If you are not able to locate the tool or facing problem in installation, then you can connect to computer support companies for online technical support.

After running the ‘Microsoft Security Essentials’ tool check whether the problem got fixed or not. If not, then run ‘System file checker’ utility to find the cause and fix the problem. ‘System File Checker‘ is a utility tool in your Windows that helps you to scan for corruptions in Windows system files in Windows Vista and Windows 7, and it will automatically restore the corrupted files. If you are good with computers, then you can run the tool on your own with the help of below mentioned guidelines. Otherwise, you can contact computer support experts for the expert technical help.

Troubleshoot Method Two:  Run ‘system file checker utility’

1.    Go to the ‘Start button.’

2.    Type ‘Command Prompt’ in the search box.

3.    Now right-click on the ‘Command Prompt.’

4.    Click ‘Run as administrator.’

5.    Windows will show you ‘Command Prompt’ window on the screen.

6.    Now type ‘sfc/scannow’ in the ‘Command Prompt’ window.

7.   Hit ‘Enter.’

The "sfc /scannow" will scan all the system files, and it will replace all the corrupted files with a cached copy located in a compressed folder at “%WinDir%\System32\dllcache.”

Note: Do not close this ‘CMD’ window until the verification process gets finished. Windows will show you the scan results after verification is done. 

Windows will show you the following messages after the complete scan:

“Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.” (Source: Microsoft)

That means you do not have any corrupted or missing system files.

“Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.” (Source: Microsoft)

It means that your system files are either missing or corrupted. In this situation, you need to perform ‘System File Checker' scan in ‘Safe Mode.’ Also, ensure that the ‘PendingDeletes’ and ‘PendingRenames’ folders that exist under the “%WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp.”

Now, turn off your computer and start it in the safe mode. Run the ‘System File Checker scan’ again with the help of above–mentioned guidelines in troubleshooting method two. Windows will show you the following messages after the scan gets completed.

If you get the following message, it means ‘System File Scan Utility’ has fixed the problem that you were facing. You can now restart your machine in the normal mode.

“Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log “%WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.” (Source: Askleo)

However, if you receive the following message:

"Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log “%WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.” (Source: Askleo)

In this situation, you need to fix the problem manually that requires advanced troubleshooting. It’s advisable to call online technical support companies for further tech support to find the cause of the problem.

Conclusion

“The Remote Procedure Call Failed” might occur due to multiple reasons. However, it mostly occurs due to the wrong allocation of registry files or if your remote procedure calls service is not set to automatic or "Started." If the problem prevails even after following the guidelines above mentioned then, it might be possible that a few important system files are not working properly. It is also possible that the files might get stopped due to infections or unwanted programs in your system.