Quick Summary
Error 0x800706BA, also known as "The RPC server is unavailable," indicates that the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service, which enables communication between processes on the same or different computers, is not accessible. This usually signifies a problem with network connectivity, service status, or firewall configurations.
Common Causes
- RPC service is not running: The Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service or related services are stopped, disabled, or not responding.
- Firewall blocking RPC communication: The Windows Firewall or a third-party firewall is blocking the RPC service or the specific port it uses for communication.
- Network connectivity issues: There are problems with the network connection between the client and the server, preventing RPC communication.
- DNS resolution issues: The client is unable to resolve the server's hostname or IP address, making RPC communication impossible.
- Incorrect RPC settings: Incorrectly configured registry settings related to the RPC service can lead to this error.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Start the RPC and Related Services
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R, type "services.msc", and press Enter to open the Services window.
Step 2: Locate the following services: Remote Procedure Call (RPC), RPC Endpoint Mapper and DCOM Server Process Launcher.
Step 3: For each of these services, right-click and select "Properties".
Step 4: In the "Properties" window, go to the "General" tab.
Step 5: Ensure the "Startup type" is set to "Automatic".
Step 6: If the "Service status" is "Stopped", click the "Start" button to start the service.
Step 7: Click "Apply" and then "OK".
Step 8: Restart your computer.
Method 2: Check Windows Firewall Settings
Step 1: Press the Windows key, type "Firewall", and select "Windows Defender Firewall".
Step 2: Click on "Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall".
Step 3: Click the "Change settings" button (you may need administrative privileges).
Step 4: Ensure that "Remote Assistance" and "Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)" are checked. If not, check them and click "OK".
Step 5: In the left pane, click on "Advanced settings".
Step 6: In the "Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security" window, click on "Inbound Rules".
Step 7: Look for rules related to RPC. Ensure they are enabled (green check mark). If any RPC-related rules are disabled (greyed out), right-click and select "Enable Rule".
Step 8: Restart your computer
Method 3: Verify Network Connectivity
Step 1: Ensure that both computers are on the same network.
Step 2: Try pinging the server from the client machine. Open Command Prompt (press Windows key + R, type "cmd", and press Enter) and type "ping [server's IP address or hostname]" (e.g., "ping 192.168.1.100" or "ping servername").
Step 3: If the ping fails, troubleshoot network connectivity issues, such as checking network cables, router configurations, and IP address settings.
Step 4: Try to access shared resources on the server from the client machine to further test network communication.
Step 5: Ensure no other devices are conflicting IP addresses on your network.
Method 4: Check DNS Settings
Step 1: On the client machine, press the Windows key + R, type "ncpa.cpl", and press Enter to open the Network Connections window.
Step 2: Right-click on your network adapter and select "Properties".
Step 3: Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click "Properties".
Step 4: Ensure that "Obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically" are selected (if using DHCP). If using static IP addresses, confirm that the DNS server addresses are correctly configured and point to a valid DNS server.
Step 5: Open Command Prompt (press Windows key + R, type "cmd", and press Enter) and type "ipconfig /flushdns" to clear the DNS cache.
Step 6: Type "ipconfig /registerdns" to re-register with the DNS server.
Step 7: Try pinging the server by its hostname again to verify DNS resolution.