Windows Management Instrumentation service is not running as LocalSystem

[This topic is intended to address a specific issue called out by the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool. You should apply it only to systems that have had the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool run against them and are experiencing that specific issue. The Exchange Server Analyzer Tool, available as a free download, remotely collects configuration data from each server in the topology and automatically analyzes the data. The resulting report details important configuration issues, potential problems, and nondefault product settings. By following these recommendations, you can achieve better performance, scalability, reliability, and uptime. For more information about the tool or to download the latest versions, see "Microsoft Exchange Analyzers" at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34707.]  

Topic Last Modified: 2005-11-18

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool reads the following registry entry to determine the value data for the ObjectName value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winmgmt

The ObjectName value in this registry branch indicates the service account settings for the Microsoft Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) service, known as the Winmgmt service. If the Exchange Server Analyzer finds the value data for ObjectName is not equal to LocalSystem, the Exchange Server Analyzer displays an error.

This error indicates that the WMI service is not running in a supported configuration. If you run the WMI service under any account other than the LocalSystem account, you can cause permission errors and access errors.

To resolve this error, you must configure the WMI service to start under the LocalSystem (SYSTEM) account.

To configure the WMI service account

  1. Open the Services Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in.

  2. Locate and stop the Windows Management Instrumentation service.

  3. Double-click Windows Management Instrumentation service.

  4. On the Log On tab of the Windows Management Instrumentation Properties page, select Local System account under Log on as, and then click Apply.

  5. Under Service status, click Start, and then click OK.

  6. Close the Services snap-in.