Non-admin users fail login with System Event Notification Service failure

Here we go again. Microsoft is as it already, as is HP/Compaq.

I just bought a new, Compaq Presario 6210 laptop that has Vista Home
Premium installed on it. I created a new user account with
non-administrative privileges for my wife. When I attempted to log in
as her to test the account, the login failed with an error that "Windows
could not connect to the System Event Notification Service service" at
which point the laptop returns to the login screen.

I logged back in as myself, was notified by the system that there was a
problem with the System Event Notification Service service. I went into
the Serivces area and verified that the service is showing up as
automatic/running.

Even after restarting the service, her account was unable to log on
stating that Windows could not communicate with a service that is
clearly running. This is ridiculous.

The imbeciles at HP/Compaq - what a bunch of idiots - say that I need to
rollback to a previous date which I flatly rejected as being a viable
"solution". (I'm surprised that they didn't say to send the unit back
for repairs!)

Does anyone know how to solve this problem without having to have every
account on the laptop an administrative account?

I'm having the same problem...If anyone can help me I'd really appreciate it!

Didn't have this problem but can suggest couple of things:

You can make your wife's account member of Administrators group temporary,
log in with it so the profile is created, then remove account from
Administrators group and try to re-login.

If this does not help, run MSCONFIG utility, go to Startup tab and sort by
Manufacturer column. If there are any non-Microsoft startup entries, one of
them can cause an error. You can disable them temporarily with msconfig to
see if the problem goes away.

Had the same problem. This problem is most probably due to the windows
update kb930857 which was to fix a problem with windows error
reporting service not asking for permission before sending
information. The reason the problem has suddenly appeared is that you
most probably have windows update set to automatically download and
apply. You can fix the problem by going to programs windows upate and
removing the update referenced above and changing you windows update
option to download but approve so it is not automatically downloaded
again.

Probably should be more specific on removing updates in Vista:
1. control panel
2. windows update
3. frequently asked questions
4. Can I remove updates?
5. Remove an update
6. click to opem installed updates.

[dperrella]

So far I'm underwhelmed with Vista. I miss XP more than I expected. Got a new ThinkPad yesterday, installed firefox, itunes and a couple of other programs and then let Windows update itself. Next reboot the PC took forever to start and I got this error and shortly after the PC spontaneously rebooted and took even longer to shut down. Removing an update is, of course, carefully hidden to prevent the user from accidentally doing what he wants.

Installing iTunes was a lot of fun too. I downloaded the program and Windows then asked me if I wanted to run it, I say yes, Windows then waits about 30 seconds before warning me that some evil person (me) is trying to run a program on my computer, do I want to let it continue?, I click on options and tell it to always trust software from Apple in the hopes of answering this question less often. Windows then interrupted the installation process 5 (yes, five) more times to ask me if I wanted to let this installation continue. I disabled this "security" feature and now I get the little red security shield to scold me for being so reckless as to turn off this incredibly useless, stupid and annoying feature. I'm not sure if the update or my disabling of this annoyance is what is causing this error for me, but thanks for letting me know how to uninstall an update. Who knows how long it might have taken to figure out where MS had hidden that tool.

Is Vista this much fun for everyone?

I think you nailed it.
Vista is as much fun as getting a beating every day.
I can make it work, but it's a constant PITA.
Unintutitve and muddled. Software by committee at it's worst.

[mziwanda]

ok everone here is the solution,soo fasten ua sit belt,sorry for my poor english,
the problem u just mentioned is caused by a certain windows updates and it mostly occur in hp computers like mine,so that means the solution is to undo wat u have updated so that u will be back and restored to normal like u were before,now this is how we undo the updates u made,when u turn on ua comp just before the windows starts to load ,just before!!!!!(mark that ),there option in the bottom of the screen which appears for a very short time,very short time,now when these option appear just click F11 INSTANTLY without delaying,then u will be taken to soo called windows recovery(restoring) centre,now from there u can take it by ua own ,that means u will restore ua windows to the day u did the update that screwed you,and this doesnt delete any of ua files so dont worry about that,i hope that will be helpful to u and others cause i had this problem for 2 weeks and i just figured out the solution now and i thought it would be nice to help you too,take care