DCOM

What is DCOM Services?

Expanded stand the initials DCOM for Distributed Component Object Model. "Right! That explains it!", was my first thought and probably yours too. But what's it for? I don't know either. I tried reading up on it, but the tech words everywhere completely threw me. You can read about it at http://www.microsoft.com/com/dcom/dcom98/dcom1_3.asp or for WIN95 from http://www.microsoft.com/com/dcom/dcom95/dcom1_3.asp

A reinstallation seems to help in most cases.

Those of you who have ZoneAlarm Firewall should control their allowed program lists. If you find DCOM there with server rights and it troubles you, like it troubled me, then here is how you get rid off it. This will require a few new starts so please make sure you have all files saved and closed, no other programs running.

Right click the Network Neighbourhood icon on the Desktop and select Properties. Click on the tab Access Control.

Enable User-Level access control

Under the option "Obtain list of users and groups from:" type in 198.168.0.1. Click on OK. Answer the next message which probably tells you that the domain or server was not found with OK or YES.

Choose any of the options available on the next window that pops up. Click on OK. You will be asked to place your Windows Installation CD in the drive. Do so. After the installation is completed, you will be asked to restart the computer.

Once the computer is up again, open the file C:\windows\system\dcomcnfg.exe and click on the tab Standard Properties. Uncheck the box next to "activate DCOM on this computer". Click on OK and then you will be asked to restart the computer.

Once the computer has restarted, right click the Network Neighbourhood icon on the Desktop and select Properties. Click on the tab Access Control. And select the option Share-Level Access Control. Click on OK. Have the Windows CD ready and waiting. Insert it on demand. Restart computer when prompted.

For those of you on networks at home or at work. Please do not do this before consulting your network administrator. Any file shares that have been set up will be removed. So if you do have a private network set up and file access, make sure you re-enable the file shares after going through the above steps.