I wasn't sure of where to put this. Before the last Windows Update, I had no problems. I had actually fixed this before by clearing temporary files. But, now, I can't change any properties.I can't do the following:- Open Control Panel- View System Settings ( Right Click -> Properties ) from My ComputerBasically, anything that I would normally be able to change settings for, I can't.If anyone has any suggestions, that'd be great. I do not have Nero or DivX installed.

What happens if youclick on Start, type "control" (without the quotes), and then press Enter?What happens if you click on Start, type "sysdm.cpl" (without the quotes), and then press Enter?Are there any errors in your Event Viewer around the same time?- John

I get the COM Surrogote error, then for the cpl file, it opens with no problems.

It will be useful to see all the error details. Please click Start, then in the search bar type view problem history. Find one of the crashes and paste the details in here.Ned Pyle [MSFT] - MS Enterprise Platforms Support - Beta Team

Open up disk clean up settings by typing %SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe /sageset:12345. The numbers at the end are arbitrary, but remember them for when you run the next command. You will see a lot of unchecked boxes. Check at a minimum Temporary files (I also selected other options). Once you make your selections, close the dialog box by cliking OK. Now, run %SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe /sagerun:12345. Notice the difference? You are now going to rundisk cleanup using thesettings you just created. Once it is done, reboot. I am not claiming that this is an absolute fix, but it worked for me in my instance when I experienced the same issue.

Okay, I cannot view problem history, and the cleanup did not work.

What do you mean by you cannot view problem history - is there an error?Ned Pyle [MSFT] - MS Enterprise Platforms Support - Beta Team

Yea, I get the error of "COM Surrogate has stopped working..."

HiWhat is size on partition where w& is installed?Do you have enough free space on disk C?

Its 35Gb on C:\ where Windows is installed. There is currently 19.9Gb in use, and about 15Gb left. So, I think that's enough space left.

Open command prompt and run sfc /scannow

Found no integrity violations.

If you have installed programs start uninstalling them one by one, starting from less useful.After each program uninstall restart and test if control panel can be opened.

I have maybe two programs installed, and it worked before and after they were installed (with restarts).

As you wish

So, there is no fix then.

Schmarvin:Does mmc run? You could try opening the Component Services console.Press Win+R or click Start\Run. Then type comexp.msc, and click ok. Expand to Component Services\Computers\My Computer\DCOM Config.When youclick DCOM Config, if there are any DCOM Config warnings, select Yes on them.Click on Services under the Console Root. Select the "COM+ Event System" and restart it, by right clicking it or clicking the "Restart" Icon in the toolbar. Select Yes on restarting any other dependant services.You can also open the Event Viewer in the Component Services console.See if Control Panel opens now.If the Component Services console does not open, see if mmc will run. Press Win+R, then mmc (enter). If mmc opens, you can try loading plug ins separately. Select File\Add/Remove Snap-in. You could start with the Component Services snap-in.See if any of this helps.Brian

Are you able to restore the computer to one day earlier than the update day you made?

Good reply Brian.

Thank you for the reply. Here is what I get from the Event Logs:Faulting application name: DllHost.exe, version: 6.1.7000.0, time stamp: 0x49431fe1Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7000.0, time stamp: 0x49433f8cException code: 0xc0000374Fault offset: 0x000b4206Faulting process id: 0x1290Faulting application start time: 0x01c997bb9f680e08Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\DllHost.exeFaulting module path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dllReport Id: ddaa8f88-03ae-11de-99ec-00158315a39f

If you use System Restore to before this 'last update' you mentioned, does it stop the error? You can 'hide update' by rightclicking it in the pending update list, after you set it to ask you before installing.Rating posts helps other users Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP

I have no restore point. This has been going on for over 2 weeks. And I only have recent backups.

I'm gonna go all out and say there is no solution. Why? Because this is a beta, I know I subscribed to the beta, and there are no fixes in the beta. Why are there no fixes in beta? Because this is a Microsoft product and fixes are only implemented in the final versions, patches, and service pack updates.

I have this same exact problem in XP SP3....

HiMy Log shows the following Error, please:-"Windows 7 COM Surrogate has stopped working Problem signature: Problem Event Name:APPCRASH Application Name:DllHost.exe Application Version:6.1.7100.0 Application Timestamp:49ee9216 Fault Module Name:ntdll.dll Fault Module Version:6.1.7100.0 Fault Module Timestamp:49eea66e Exception Code:c0000005 Exception Offset:00054f37 OS Version:6.1.7100.2.0.0.256.1 Locale ID:16393 Additional Information 1:0a9e Additional Information 2:0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789 Additional Information 3:0a9e Additional Information 4:0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789"Although Microsoft does not formally provide email support for Windows 7 RC, yet I'm told that theirvDevelopment Team does Help through this Forum.Hope one of them is listening and would, please, care to reply asap.Thanks & Regards