Issue 333364 in chromium: Chrome Remote Desktop Host disabled and won't start on Vista

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Status: Unconfirmed
Owner: ----
Labels: Pri-2 Via-Wizard Type-Bug-Regression OS-Windows

New issue 333364 by clo...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop Host disabled
and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like
Gecko) Chrome/32.0.1700.72 Safari/537.36

Steps to reproduce the problem:
I have version 32.0.1700.63 of the Chrome Remote Desktop extension.

1. Notice that a host previously available to connect to is no longer
present on Chrome Remote Desktop
2. Go to that host, and see that is has been disabled
3. Try to enable it. I am prompted to create a PIN in the browser (even
though I had it enabled before with a PIN already)
4. Get a UAC prompt for "Chrome Remote Desktop Host Controller" and say Yes
5. Get an error in the browser that says "failed to start remote access
service"

What is the expected behavior?
That my host remained enabled just as I left it

What went wrong?
The host (server) became disabled and now will not start

Did this work before? Yes A few weeks ago

Chrome version: 32.0.1700.72 Channel: stable
OS Version: 6.0 (Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008)
Flash Version: Shockwave Flash 12.0 r0

I tried re-installing the App/Extension, and this does not help.

There are some items in my Vista event log:
Error 1/10/2014 1:08:22 PM MsiInstaller 11923 None
- Product: Chrome Remote Desktop Host -- Error 1923. Service '@C:\Program
Files\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop\32.0.1700.63\remoting_core.dll,-101'
(chromoting) could not be installed. Verify that you have sufficient
privileges to install system services.

Warning 1/9/2014 10:08:01 PM RestartManager 10010 None
- Application 'C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome Remote
Desktop\30.0.1599.56\remoting_host.exe' (pid 980) cannot be restarted -
Application SID does not match Conductor SID..

Error 1/10/2014 2:07:56 PM DistributedCOM 10000 None
- Unable to start a DCOM Server: {D3C6E82F-B89C-40CC-9336-57A18183A39F}.
The error:
"2"
Happened while starting this command:
C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome Remote
Desktop\30.0.1599.56\remoting_host.exe --type=controller -Embedding

--
You received this message because this project is configured to send all
issue notifications to this address.
You may adjust your notification preferences at:
https://code.google.com/hosting/settings

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #1 on issue 333364 by clo...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop Host

disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

At some point after reporting this, I was able to re-enable Chrome Remote
Desktop and use it just fine. But now after some time has passed, the same
problem has re-occurred.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #2 on issue 333364 by ahfpi...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Solution:

http://www.justinmwest.com/troubleshooting/chrome-remote-desktop-failed-start-remote-access-service/

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #4 on issue 333364 by clo...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop Host

disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

The solution from ahfpi... in comment #2 seemed to work for me (I think,
but I cannot say conclusively) for a bit, but it looks like Chrome Remote
Desktop tried to update itself recently and failed, because I see an event
log message like one I saw originally:

- Product: Chrome Remote Desktop Host -- Error 1923. Service '@C:\Program

Files\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop\35.0.1916.52\remoting_core.dll,-101'

(chromoting) could not be installed. Verify that you have sufficient
privileges to install system services.

Note that that version number is actually higher than the one listed on the
Chrome Web Store

And after this, I believe the "Chrome Remote Desktop Service" (Windows
Service) was disabled and is no longer running. If I try to re-enable the
service, it says it has been "marked for deletion"

Then after rebooting, the service is (of course) no longer there, and so
Chrome Remote Desktop won't work.

If I go to the Chrome Remote Desktop App, it shows connections are
disabled, and has the "Enable Remote Connection" button, which does not
work and results in the same "failed to start remote access service" error
that I had originally. Re-installing the App does not help.

My Google Update services are enabled.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #5 on issue 333364 by meadowsj...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

I too am having this same exact problem on Windows 7.
No matter what I do, when I try to enable remote access, I get the "Failed
to start remote access service" error.

I previously have had the "chrome remote desktop" beta installed for quite
some time, and only recently have I tried to get things working.
(previously using the app would complain about this computer's chrome
remote desktop being too old, however, now with recent updates, it's all up
to date.)

Here is what I've tried so far, none of which worked, however, some of
these seemed to have fixed other people.
1. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling "chrome remote desktop"
2. I then proceeded to uninstall (and remove all local data) and reinstall
chrome completely (and the "Chrome remote desktop" of course)
3. I have tried to manually install
the "chromeremotedesktophost-35.0.1916.52.msi" file from the local update
folder (I also tried 6 older versions, none helped), which DID install just
fine, but had no effect on being able to enable Chrome Remote Desktop
4. I have tried creating an empty host.json file
in "C:\ProgramData\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop" which DID finally allow
the service to run when started manually, however, it broke everything and
wouldn't allow me to change anything, also, it wouldn't allow remote
connections, so that didn't fix anything, I just thought it was interesting
that I was able to get it to manually start, albeit broken. (I did remove
the empty file after it didn't work of course).
5. temporarily disable avg antivirus
And sadly, none of these things have fixed the problem, EVERY time I tried
one of these things, I get that same error message as stated above.

Please note, for some reason in all my uninstalling and reinstalling, this
folder never is getting created automatically:
"C:\ProgramData\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop"
(which on my other computer, that folder contains the following two
files "host.json" and "host_unprivileged.json")
So it troubles me that I can't get it to be created.

Also, if it helps, I have a second Windows 7 computer that works perfectly
(and which I'd be happy to copy stuff from/to to test things), and I'm able
to connect to remotely from this computer, as well as my Nexus 5 phone.

Please let me know if there's anything further I can do to help
troubleshoot this problem. (since it's rendered this
computer "unremotable" :-P)

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #8 on issue 333364 by cben...@chromium.org: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

There's a number of recent MSIInstaller errors around chromoting in my
windows event log if that would help diagnose issues.

"Chrome Remote Desktop Host -- Error 1923. Service '@C:\Program Files

(x86)\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop\36.0.1985.62\remoting_core.dll,-101'

(chromoting) could not be installed. Verify that you have sufficient
privileges to install system services."

However, when I start up the Remote Desktop app, it is using
remoting_native_message_host.exe version 35.0.1916.52

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #10 on issue 333364 by clo...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop Host

disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Here is an excerpt from my Windows Vista Event Log:
# Level Date Source Event ID Description
1 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 gupdate1c985c93c8994e0 0 The description for
Event ID 0 from source gupdate1c985c93c8994e0 cannot be found.
2 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 RestartManager 10001 Ending session 1 started
7/10/2014 4:34:47 AM.
3 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 RestartManager 10001 Ending session 1 started
7/10/2014 4:34:46 AM.
4 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 RestartManager 10001 Ending session 1 started
7/10/2014 4:34:39 AM.
5 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 MsiInstaller 1042 Ending a Windows Installer
transaction: C:\Program
Files\Google\Update\Install\{F2C50403-1F14-482C-8987-3318E058FBBA}\chromeremotedesktophost-36.0.1985.102.msi.
Client Process Id: 3064.
6 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 MsiInstaller 1033 Windows Installer installed
the product. Product Name: Chrome Remote Desktop Host. Product Version:
36.0.1985.102. Product Language: 1033. Installation success or error
status: 1603.
7 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 MsiInstaller 11708 Product: Chrome Remote
Desktop Host -- Installation failed.
8 Error 7/10/2014 0:34 MsiInstaller 11923 Product: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host -- Error 1923. Service '@C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome Remote

Desktop\36.0.1985.102\remoting_core.dll,-101' (chromoting) could not be

installed. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to install system
services.

9 Warning 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10010 Application 'C:\Program
Files\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop\36.0.1985.62\remoting_host.exe' (pid
448) cannot be restarted - Application SID does not match Conductor SID..
10 Information 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10000 Starting session 1 -
7/10/2014 4:34:47 AM.
11 Warning 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10010 Application 'C:\Program
Files\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop\36.0.1985.62\remoting_host.exe' (pid
448) cannot be restarted - Application SID does not match Conductor SID..
12 Information 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10000 Starting session 1 -
7/10/2014 4:34:46 AM.
13 Information 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10000 Starting session 1 -
7/10/2014 4:34:39 AM.
14 Information 7/10/2014 0:34 MsiInstaller 1040 Beginning a Windows
Installer transaction: C:\Program
Files\Google\Update\Install\{F2C50403-1F14-482C-8987-3318E058FBBA}\chromeremotedesktophost-36.0.1985.102.msi.
Client Process Id: 3064.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #11 on issue 333364 by clo...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop Host

disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Here is an excerpt from my Windows Vista Event Log:
# Level Date Source Event ID Description

1 Information 7/10/2014 0:34 MsiInstaller 1040 Beginning a Windows

Installer transaction: C:\Program
Files\Google\Update\Install\{F2C50403-1F14-482C-8987-3318E058FBBA}\chromeremotedesktophost-36.0.1985.102.msi.
Client Process Id: 3064.

2 Information 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10000 Starting session 1 -

7/10/2014 4:34:39 AM.

3 Information 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10000 Starting session 1 -

7/10/2014 4:34:46 AM.

4 Warning 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10010 Application 'C:\Program

Files\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop\36.0.1985.62\remoting_host.exe' (pid
448) cannot be restarted - Application SID does not match Conductor SID..

5 Information 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10000 Starting session 1 -

7/10/2014 4:34:47 AM.

6 Warning 7/10/2014 0:34 RestartManager 10010 Application 'C:\Program

Files\Google\Chrome Remote Desktop\36.0.1985.62\remoting_host.exe' (pid
448) cannot be restarted - Application SID does not match Conductor SID..

7 Error 7/10/2014 0:34 MsiInstaller 11923 Product: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host -- Error 1923. Service '@C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome Remote
Desktop\36.0.1985.102\remoting_core.dll,-101' (chromoting) could not be
installed. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to install system
services.

8 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 MsiInstaller 11708 Product: Chrome Remote

Desktop Host -- Installation failed.

9 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 MsiInstaller 1033 Windows Installer installed

the product. Product Name: Chrome Remote Desktop Host. Product Version:
36.0.1985.102. Product Language: 1033. Installation success or error
status: 1603.

10 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 MsiInstaller 1042 Ending a Windows Installer

transaction: C:\Program
Files\Google\Update\Install\{F2C50403-1F14-482C-8987-3318E058FBBA}\chromeremotedesktophost-36.0.1985.102.msi.
Client Process Id: 3064.

11 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 RestartManager 10001 Ending session 1 started

7/10/2014 4:34:39 AM.

12 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 RestartManager 10001 Ending session 1 started

7/10/2014 4:34:46 AM.

13 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 RestartManager 10001 Ending session 1 started

7/10/2014 4:34:47 AM.

14 Information 7/10/2014 0:35 gupdate1c985c93c8994e0 0 The description for

Event ID 0 from source gupdate1c985c93c8994e0 cannot be found.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Updates:
Status: Assigned
Owner: dcai...@chromium.org

Comment #12 on issue 333364 by jamie...@chromium.org: Chrome Remote

Desktop Host disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Dan, does this event log mean anything to you?

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #13 on issue 333364 by clo...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop Host

disabled and won't start on Vista
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Not sure if this is related but sometimes after rebooting, I see a Windows
dialog pop up with a title that says "Copy Folder" and content that
says "The
C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Us...\manifest.fingerprint folder
does not exist. The file may have been moved or deleted. Do you want to
create it?"

Since the path is truncated, I used Process Monitor to deduce what it was
and it seems to be related to PepperFlash trying to update, and I also
traced down the dialog to be triggered by chrome.exe, as one would expect.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #14 on issue 333364 by antonio...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista

https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Would it be possible to create more verbose logs so that the exact cause of
this problem(s) might be pinpointed? I am unable to run CRH on a Windows 7
x64, and I've tried all the solutions proposed (and I do have admin rights
from the start). The most frustrating part is having no idea what is
causing the problem. I have the Chrome Remote and the two Google Update
services installed, and all of them will stop right after I start them. If
I uninstall Chrome (the browser), then the first of the Google Update
services will start and remain active, but there is nothing I can do with
that.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #15 on issue 333364 by jan...@apponfly.com: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

I prefer https://www.apponfly.com/en/ as Chrome Remote Desktop refuses to
work on my PC and that is why I do not have to deal with all the troubles
you guys have;)

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #16 on issue 333364 by j...@stormed.com: Chrome Remote Desktop Host

disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

I am having the same issue but with Windows 2008 server. I have tried
everything and in fact have spoken to Google support several times but no
one has been able to figure out the issue. I ran a program called Sawbuck
and got the error messages below -

INFORMATION 5112 5116 13:05:08-591 CONSOLE 121 "App mode: home", source:
chrome-extension://gbchcmhmhahfdphkhkmpfmihenigjmpp/ui_mode.js (121)
INFORMATION 5112 5116 13:05:09-878 CONSOLE 121 "App mode:
home.host-setup.ask-pin", source:
chrome-extension://gbchcmhmhahfdphkhkmpfmihenigjmpp/ui_mode.js (121)
INFORMATION 5112 5116 13:05:16-724 CONSOLE 121 "App mode:
home.host-setup.processing", source:
chrome-extension://gbchcmhmhahfdphkhkmpfmihenigjmpp/ui_mode.js (121)
INFORMATION 5112 5116 13:05:19-071 CONSOLE 121 "App mode:
home.host-setup.error", source:
chrome-extension://gbchcmhmhahfdphkhkmpfmihenigjmpp/ui_mode.js (121)
INFORMATION 5112 5116 13:05:20-482 CONSOLE 121 "App mode: home", source:
chrome-extension://gbchcmhmhahfdphkhkmpfmihenigjmpp/ui_mode.js (121)
ERROR 3908 2064 13:06:09-605
c:\b\build\slave\win\build\src\remoting\host\config_file_watcher.cc 219
Failed to read 'C:\ProgramData\Google\Chrome Remote
Desktop\host.json': �t�Χ䤣���w���ɮסC (0x2)
ERROR 1636 4540 13:06:26-025
c:\b\build\slave\win\build\src\remoting\host\config_file_watcher.cc 219
Failed to read 'C:\ProgramData\Google\Chrome Remote
Desktop\host.json': �t�Χ䤣���w���ɮסC (0x2)

Can someone please help? Thanks.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #18 on issue 333364 by nathan...@burnskids.com: Chrome Remote

Desktop Host disabled and won't start on Vista

https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

I'm experiencing this issue as well, when trying to set up Chrome Remote
Desktop on a fresh install of Windows 7 Professional. I'm using the beta
channel of Google Chrome, version 39.0.2171.62.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #19 on issue 333364 by kenyeres...@e-corvina.hu: Chrome Remote

Desktop Host disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Same issue is here Win8.1, Win7 (Local admin)
CRD version is: 38.0.2125.9

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #20 on issue 333364 by jhnb...@verizon.net: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

I have been working on this for 8 hours now and still no solution. I can
not believe Google is ignoring this issue. I guess stock holders are more
important.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #21 on issue 333364 by yllin...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

My whole company is struggling with this issue and we still can't find a
solution.

It appears chrome remote desktop works on a personal account, like
gmail.com but it does not work on google apps for work users. This only
started happening after a recent chrome update. This has been confirmed by
Google support. We hope this issue can be fixed soon. Thank you.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #22 on issue 333364 by Charles....@hillbrowoffice.com: Chrome

Remote Desktop Host disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

this seems linked to the account that you use to sign into to Chrome.
personal (gmail) account works fine. g-apps / non gmail account fails to
start remote access service. tested on two machines & three accounts all
brand new, fresh out of the box, windows 8.1, fresh install of chrome /
remote desktop

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #23 on issue 333364 by rmso...@chromium.org: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

The issue with non-gmail accounts is being tracked by
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=434979 - we have
identified the issue and are working on getting the fix out as soon as
possible. Please star that bug for updates.

As a side note: When you find issues with the product, we recommend opening
a new bug for your issue, and letting us merge it with existing issues if
appropriate. Bugs with similar symptoms in the description may be tracking
issues unrelated to yours, or even obsolete issues - comments on those bugs
will not hit our radar as quickly or reliably as new bugs. Don't worry too
much about duplicates - we'd rather triage a few extra bugs than miss an
issue affecting our users because we missed a comment notification in an
existing bug.

(this bug, in particular, is an old bug about an unrelated vista-specific
installation issue)

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Updates:
Status: WontFix

Comment #26 on issue 333364 by jamie...@chromium.org: Chrome Remote

Desktop Host disabled and won't start on Vista

https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

This is a very old bug report and conflates a number of different
underlying issues. As such, it's not useful to keep it open. Please file
new bugs for any problems you're still seeing.

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #27 on issue 333364 by bog...@gmail.com: Chrome Remote Desktop Host

disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Maybe old issue but I still have this issue

[chro...@googlecode.com]

Comment #28 on issue 333364 by robert...@aol.com: Chrome Remote Desktop

Host disabled and won't start on Vista
https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=333364

Yup, same. Seems to have to do with updates. The app can be uninstalled
and installed but the service does not seem to properly uninstall
automatically. What seems to work for me is uninstall the app, reboot.
Uninstall the service, reboot. Install the app using the instructions
here . . .

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en

Not 100% certain but doing these steps eventually works for me.

Also, I suspect deleting the stale (grayed out) computer 'last connected'
links after re-installing may also cause the same problem.