Solution: Control Panel, Welcome Center or Games are not Opening in Windows Vista

If you are a Windows Vista user and you can’t access Control Panel or Welcome Center or can’t start Games, then this tutorial will help you.

Many times Windows Vista users face a very strange problem. Whenever they open Control Panel, Welcome Center or start games. A “Windows Explorer” window pops up and disappears. You have no idea why is this weird thing happening?

Don’t worry. If you are one of them who are facing this problem then follow these simple steps:

1. Open Service Manager by giving “services.msc” command in RUN or Startmenu Search box.

2.  In right-side pane, look for a service “Software Licensing“. Double-click on it and make sure its Startup type is set to “Automatic“. If its not, then change it to “Automatic” and click on “Start” button to start the service.

3. If its already set to “Automatic“, then stop the service and again start it.

4. Thats it. It should solve the problem and you should be able to access Control Panel.

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10 Replies:

1. Jean Paul said:

   Hi Vishal,

   I have the problem with welcome center. I can’t open it after installing vista SP1. I followed your solution above but the problem isn’t solved. Can you help me, please?

2. VG said:

   Also check the same for “SL UI Notification Service”. Make sure its set to Automatic and Running.

3. Jean Paul said:

   Hi Vishal,

   I tried the second solution too. I set these two services as automatic and running. But i still can’t open the Welcome center. I don’t understand. It only occur after i installed the SP1. Before it worked well.

4. VG said:

   I’ll advise you to install a hotfix for it. Open following link and send a request to Microsoft to send you a link to download the required hotfix:

   http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

5. Jean Paul said:

   Thanks Vishal, i’ve send them a request.
   Thanks again.

6. VG said:

   ^^ No problem. Also make sure that your Graphics drivers are up to date. Sometimes this problem occurs due to old or faulty graphics drivers.

7. faijo said:

   I ‘m having a problem with the personalization menu.. Can’t open the file cause got error message(windows cannot locate shell…………).

   Sorry can’t remember the whole message. Can u help ? BTW i’m using vista home basic

8. VG said:

   ^^ It seems a system file is missing or corrupt. Open Command Prompt and give following command:

   sfc /scannow

   It’ll repair all files. It might ask for the Setup DVD.

9. faijo said:

   thanks man, it really help

10. faijo said:

    thanks man, it really help

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