Quick Summary
The error code 0x800706BA, typically indicating "The RPC server is unavailable," signifies that the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service, responsible for communication between programs on a network, is not running or is unreachable. This often results in applications failing to communicate with necessary services, leading to various errors and functionality issues.
Common Causes
- RPC Service Not Running: The core RPC service (Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and/or RPC Locator) might be stopped or disabled.
- Firewall Blocking RPC: The Windows Firewall or a third-party firewall could be blocking the communication ports that RPC uses.
- Network Connectivity Issues: Network problems, such as incorrect DNS settings or a malfunctioning network adapter, can prevent the client from reaching the RPC server.
- DCOM Configuration Problems: Incorrect Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) settings can interfere with RPC communication.
- Incorrect DNS Configuration: Improper DNS configurations can lead to the client being unable to resolve the server's name to its IP address, thus preventing RPC connectivity.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Start the RPC Services
Step 1: Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Step 2: Locate the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service. Ensure its status is 'Running'. If not, right-click and select 'Start'.
Step 3: Locate the RPC Locator service. Ensure its status is 'Running'. If not, right-click and select 'Start'. If this service is missing, proceed to the next fix related to System File Checker.
Step 4: Double-click on each service, go to the 'Recovery' tab, and ensure the 'First failure', 'Second failure' and 'Subsequent failures' settings are set to 'Restart the Service'.
Step 5: Click 'Apply' and 'OK'.
Method 2: Check Windows Firewall Settings
Step 1: Press Windows Key + R, type control panel, and press Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
Step 3: Click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
Step 4: Ensure that 'Remote Assistance' and 'Remote Service Management' are checked. If not, click the Change settings button (you may need administrator privileges), and check the boxes. Also locate and enable the required application if you know which one is getting blocked.
Step 5: Click 'OK'.
Method 3: Run System File Checker (SFC)
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. Search for 'cmd', right-click, and select 'Run as administrator'.
Step 2: Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Step 3: Wait for the process to complete. This may take some time.
Step 4: Restart your computer after the scan is finished.
Method 4: Check DCOM Configuration
Step 1: Press Windows Key + R, type dcomcnfg and press Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to Component Services > Computers > My Computer.
Step 3: Right-click on My Computer and select Properties.
Step 4: Go to the COM Security tab.
Step 5: Under 'Launch and Activation Permissions', click Edit Default. Add 'ANONYMOUS LOGON' and grant it 'Local Launch' and 'Local Activation' permissions if they are not already configured.
Step 6: In the same COM Security tab, under 'Access Permissions', click Edit Default. Add 'ANONYMOUS LOGON' and grant it 'Local Access'.
Step 7: Click 'OK' on all windows to save the changes.
Method 5: Verify Correct DNS Configuration
Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
Step 2: Right-click on the active network adapter (e.g., Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select Properties.
Step 3: Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
Step 4: Ensure either that 'Obtain an IP address automatically' and 'Obtain DNS server address automatically' are selected, or if you use static IP addresses, that the DNS server addresses are correctly configured. If you use static DNS servers, try using public DNS servers like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) for testing purposes.
Step 5: Click 'OK' on all windows to save changes.
Step 6: Open a command prompt as administrator and type ipconfig /flushdns then press Enter. This will clear the DNS cache. Afterward, type ipconfig /registerdns and press Enter. This registers your host with the DNS server.