Since carrying out a clean install of Windows 7 I was having a problem with Media Centre, the program would not record any programs unless it was open, it also would not wake the computer from sleep to record any programs. I figured this must be a problem with the esSched service. After playing around a bit with the service options in the Services window I decided to un-register all the Media Centre services (as detailed here: http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/p/81303/404215.aspx and on many other websites on the internet).Here are the commands I entered:

regsvr32 atl.dll
%windir%\ehome\ehSched /unregServer
%windir%\ehome\ehSched /service
%windir%\ehome\ehRecvr /unregServer
%windir%\ehome\ehRecvr /service
%windir%\ehome\ehRec.exe /unregServer
%windir%\ehome\ehRec.exe /regserver
%windir%\ehome\ehmsas.exe /unregServer
%windir%\ehome\ehmsas.exe /regserver

After I had completed those steps the services were apparently un-registered, since they disappeared from the Services window, but they failed to re-register, so now I have no Media Centre services and receive the "serious problem" error. I have tried MceRepair 0.2 but that didn't work, and I've also tried a system restore but all the restore points I try just fail!

I've also tried executing a batch file with the commands but that has no effect.

I'm running a WinTV Nova-t-500 dual digital (UK) tuner which was working fine up until I lost the services, which leads me to believe there's nothing wrong with the tuner. I did try re-installing the driver for it but that made no difference.

I'm totally lost as to what to do now, I really don't want to have to re-install windows again, I just finished one re-installation after a hard drive failure! Any help or advice would be much appreciated. 

Cheers, 

Cameron

You could try uninstalling & reinstalling Media Center itself - that should re-register the services properly (note, though, that it will clear your tuner confuguration, recording schedule, and recording history.)

Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.  Uncheck 'Windows Media Center" > OK.  Reboot.  Repeat process, check "Windows Media Center."  Reboot again.

Given, though, that you're having more than one issue, I'm wondering if your Windows installation just went 'bad' - it happens sometimes (far less often than with previous OSes, yes; but, still possible.)

 Unfortunately when trying to un-install Media Centre I receive an error that reads "An error has occurred. Not all of the features were successfully changed" and there are no changes made. I have tried downloading and installing the System Update Readiness Tool to fix the problem but that had no effect. I also tried running the removal in safe mode but that didn't work either.

Any other suggestions before I re-install Windows 

Would the system file checker help?

Run sfc /scannow in an administrator command prompt window (type cmd into the start menu box, right click cmd.exe and run as administrator)

 I ran the scan and it said "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them." I checked the log but it's really long and I don't know what I'm looking for!

After running the scan I tried to re-register the services but it didn't work.

Do you get any error messages when trying to re-register?

Other options.....

System Restore?

Restore from a backup?

Repair install of Windows, rather than a fresh install?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Edit:

Give the Win7 SP1 beta a try!

Edit - Edit:

Silly question maybe - are you sure you're using the correct commands to re-register?

 No error messages come up, although when using MceRepair it states:

 09/09/2010 23:26    ngen    Failed to create native image for C:\Windows\ehome\ehsched.exe (this may be okay).  Code=-3

But I'm not sure what that means?!

I've tried doing system restores but they all fail (I know, this isn't looking good...)

I'd JUST got this Windows how I like it after re-installing everything about a week ago, and I WAS going to make a back-up this weekend... So I don't have one to use now

I tried doing a repair install but that failed too "Windows could not configure one or more system components. To install Windows, restart the computer and then restart the installation" - Tried twice but no good.

I tried to install SP1 but guess what?! It failed! Fatal error! It may be time to call it on this week old Windows installation! 

I'm pretty sure I've been using the right commands, the ones in my original post? I've also tried using MceRepair and I've tried a batch file of the commands I downloaded off the web.

Sorry - no other ideas here.

You are definitely using an administrator cmd prompt window when trying to register the services?

If nobody else jumps in then I'd do a quick backup (if you want to keep the old install in case you find the answer) and just get on with a clean install.

These things happen to all of us at some point or other - the trick is to not get caught out by the same disaster twice!

Once you get your system humming along nicely, back it up - regularly

Just thought I'd let everyone know I ended up re-installing Windows! Backed-up my data and ended up formating the drive completely as the Custom install, strangely, wouldn't work (same error I recieved when trying to Upgrade) when the previous Windows was still on the HD.

I have to agree with Cup, it looks like my installation just went bad since everything started to fall apart! Everythings working great now though.

I've bought an external HD caddy and will be popping my spare SATA drive into there and setting up Windows backup (and creating a system image!) hopefully next week!

Anyway, thanks for all your help!