Hullo there.
I've been using VMware server for some time, with very few issues. But when I install VMware (either Server 2 or even just Player 2.5) on my new work laptop, I consistently get the same error: failure of the LSASS service, which I'm alerted to by a Windows dialogue which says I have 60 seconds (and counting) before the system shuts down. Doing a `shutdown -a` does abort the countdown and imminent halt, but leaves the system unusable, as LSASS is indeed a critical process, which controls (among other things) Winlogon and the SAM, meaning Windows no longer knows what is going on as far as which user is which... with the result that I can't even do a manual shutdown or reboot myself (or much of anything else, for that matter).
I've worked out that the offending process (with Server 2) is the "VMware Authorization Service" -- or vmware-authd.exe -- which I guess could understandably have some interaction with LSASS. When I disable this service, my computer runs fine... but of course I can't start VMs.
In the Application Event Log, I get the following Error message citing "Winlogon" as the source: "A critical system process, C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe, failed with status code c0000005. The machine must now be restarted."
I've tried Googling for ideas, as well as searching on here (which I'm new to) and don't seem to have even come close to fixing the problem. One site suggested LSASS problems could be caused by a virus/worm/trojan, but I've run all the anti-virus, anti-trojan, anti-malware, anti-spyware, anti-rootkit, anti-...everything(!) programs that I have, as well as the MS Malicious Software Remover and its all come up clean.
I'm running Windows XP SP2 with all hotfixes, and trying to get going VMware Server 2.0.0-116503 (downloaded it again last night!).
This is driving me nuts, and I'm going to need VMware running on my laptop in less than 2 weeks, for a training course I'm conducting. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Please help!
Thanks in advance.
-Ash-