What does HRESULT 0x8000401C (CO_E_START_SERVICE_FAILURE) mean?

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: COM could not start the Windows service registered as the server for this class.

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CO_E_LAUNCH_PERMSSION_DENIED	CO_E_REMOTE_COMMUNICATION_FAILURE

CO_E_START_SERVICE_FAILURE

CO_E_START_SERVICE_FAILURE means that COM selected a service-hosted server and the service could not be started. This is not a LocalServer32 executable-start error: COM service activation is based on the LocalService registration and the matching Windows service installation.

How service activation is registered

A COM object can be installed as a Windows service by setting LocalService to the service name under the AppID key and performing standard service installation. When that service model is present, COM uses the service rather than the ordinary local-server executable registration.

What to verify

Follow the CLSID-to-AppID mapping and check that LocalService names the intended service entry under HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services.
Use the service’s own startup diagnostics and event records to identify why the Service Control Manager could not start it.
Do not try to repair a service account by editing the AppID RunAs value; Microsoft documents that RunAs is not used for service-configured servers.

References

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