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Windows Authentication Errors

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Kylesims

Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Location
Oklahoma, US
So, I've been trying to figure out why my Mail app wasn't working in Windows 8.1. I uninstalled the app, went to the store to redownload it, and got an error saying it couldn't process. A quick google search of the error shows that Windows thinks my copy isn't authentic. Some Microsoft pages said that this has to do with a service, the Software Protection service, not running. I go to look for it, and my Software Protection service is stuck in a perpetual state of 'stopping'.

It's been like this since I powered my computer on today. I've been having this issue for several days, so I'm assuming a restart won't fix it.

How can I force-stop that service? Or remove it completely? I found a microsoft forum post with a script I can run in command prompt to make a new service for it, but it won't let me do that currently cause the service already exists.

Any help is appreciated, and I'll give any other info needed as requested.
 
I can only try and guess with my help as I have never used win 8 .
But in all the other windows versions you type "msconfig" Into the run line then click on the services tab . So give that a shot , best I can do . =)
 
If you can't kill it through services.msc, try using the powershell cmdlet stop-service with the -force flag. I've never run into this issue, but I'd look for a root cause as to why that service is reporting that your version is not activated rather than just killing it every time.
 
I ran in to all kinds of problems with a Win 8.1 install because the time was wrong. Authentication issues and internet connection problems to name two. I had somehow managed to put the wrong time zone in and as soon as it connected to a local server a bunch of stuff got borked. Throwing that out there just in case.
 
Don't know why I didn't think of it earlier... Used a restore point from about a week before the issue - Windows 8 is great about creating restore points before windows updates and installing/uninstalling -anything-. Fixed the issue. Thanks guys!
 
Did you get message on the bottom right "This copy of Windows is not genuine".

OTOH, I know that Windows 7 may randomly display that message, real annoying. (Then it goes away like nothing happened)
 
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