Hello Mustang,
In your Diagnostic Report it shows the error code "Online Validation Code: 0x80070426". This means that the Software Licensing Service has stopped. Vista uses this service to check itself and confirm it is Genuine. When the service is stopped, Vista is unable to confirm it's own Genuine status and may show Genuine or Non-Genuine. The fact that the Service has stopped is also, most likely, the cause of other issues you may be experiencing (such as not having access to the Control Panel).
Please try the first set of steps and if it does not resolve the issue, move on to the next set.
The first set of steps are how to set the Software Licensing Service to start at each Vista Start-up.
1. Click on the Start button and in the Start Search box type in: services.msc
2. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
3. The Services window should now open.
4. Scroll down to Software Licensing, then right-click on it and select Properties.
5. Under the General tab, click on the Stop button.
6. Set the Startup Type to Automatic, then click Apply.
7. Next, under Service Status, click on the Start button.
8. Last, restart your computer.
The second set of steps are the Manual steps to Force Start the Software Licensing Service. Once you type the net start slsvc command and hit Enter, if you receive any error, then, for some reason, Vista is not processing the command correctly and the issue is larger than just a Software Licensing problem. In which case, I would suggest contacting Vista support at http://support.microsoft.com
If you have access to the Start button:
1) Click the Start button
2) Type: cmd in the Start Search field
3) At the top the Start window, you will see cmd.exe
4) Right Click cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator
5) Type: net start slsvc
If you do not have access to the Start button:
1) Click the option that launches an Internet Browser
2) A Browser will open, type: %windir%\system32 into the address field
3) Find the file cmd.exe
4) Right Click on the cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator
5) Type: net start slsvc
Take care,
Stephen Holm, MS
WGA Forum Manager
Stephen Holm
