Error 1053: The Service Did Not Respond to the Start or Control Request in a Timely Fashion — Causes and Solutions

Error 1053, indicating “The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion,” is a common issue in Windows systems. It suggests that the operating system expected a response from a service but did not receive it within the allotted time. Let’s explore why this error might occur and how to resolve it.

Possible Causes of Error 1053

  • Insufficient system resources: A lack of memory or CPU power can delay the service’s response.
  • Network issues: If the service relies on network access but can’t connect, the timeout period might expire.
  • Errors in the service code: Bugs or poor service programming can cause it to run inconsistently.
  • Registry issues: Corrupt or incorrectly configured Windows registry entries may disrupt service functionality.

Methods to Fix Error 1053

1. Increase the Service Timeout Period

You can set a longer wait time for the service’s response. Follow these steps:

  1. Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start menu.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control.
  3. Create a new DWORD entry named ServicesPipeTimeout and set its value to 60000 (60 seconds).
  4. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

2. Check and Restart the Problematic Service

Try manually stopping and restarting the service causing the error:

  1. Press Win + R and type services.msc.
  2. Find the service, right-click on it, and select “Restart.”

3. Update or Reinstall the Service

Sometimes, the error is due to an outdated or corrupt version of the service. Try updating or reinstalling the service by downloading the latest version from the developer’s site.

4. Run a System File Check

To fix potential system file errors, run the SFC command:

  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
  3. Wait for the scan to complete and then restart your computer.

5. Update Windows

Some Windows updates include fixes for issues like this. Make sure you have all the latest system updates installed.