Error 1053 when you try to start SQL Server Agent

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This article was previously published under Q322140

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SYMPTOMS

The SQL Server Agent Service does not start and it generates error 1053:

An error 1053 (The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.) occurred while performing this service operation on the SQLServerAgent service.

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CAUSE

This issue occurs because of one of the following reasons:

The SQLServerAgent service startup account may not have the correct permissions on the folder that contains SQLAgent.out files.
The SQL Server Agent error log may include a path or a file name that is not correct.
Some executable .dll files may be corrupted or damaged.
The SQLServerAgent service startup account may not have the correct permissions to use the registry.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods, as appropriate to your circumstances:

The SQLServerAgent service startup account may not have the correct permissions on the folder that contains SQLAgent.out files.

In this case, make sure that the specified SQLServerAgent service account has full control permissions to the folder in which the SQLAgent.out, SQLAgent.1, SQLAgent.2, and other SQL Server files are located. These files are typically stored in the LOG folder, which is in the SQL Server installation path.
The SQL Server Agent error log may include a path or a file name that is not correct.

In this case, verify that the path and file name for SQLAgent.out is valid:
1. In SQL Server Enterprise Manager, expand the Management folder.
2. Right-click SQL Server Agent, and then click Properties.
3. Under Error Log, make sure that the path that is specified next to File Name is valid.
4. Make sure that the file name is SQLAGENT.out.
Some executable .dll files may be corrupted or damaged.

In this case, try starting SQL Server Agent from the command prompt by running the following command:

Default Instance
sqlagent -c -v
Named Instance
sqlagent -i[Instance Name] -c -v
If you receive the following error message
execution can't continue as the language resource file sqlagent.rll could not be loaded
replace the SQLAgent.dll and SQLAgent.rll files with different copies of these files (SQLAgent.dll and SQLAgent.rll).
The SQLServerAgent service startup account may not have the correct permissions to use the registry.

In this case, make sure that the MSSQLSERVER startup account, the SQL Server Agent startup account, and the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC) startup account have full control of the following keys in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSDTC

The following keys are for the default instance:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSSQLSERVER
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlset\Services\SQLSERVERAGENT

The following keys are for the named instance:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSSQL$<INSTANCE>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlset\Services\SQLAgent$<INSTANCE>

Note The placeholder INSTANCE is replaced with the actual name of an instance of SQL Server.