You receive a "The RPC server is unavailable" error message when you open Disk Management in Windows XP

When you first start your computer, and Microsoft Windows XP Out of Box Experience (OOBE) finishes, and then you open Disk Management, you may receive either of the following error messages: Additionally, the following error may be logged in the application log in Event Viewer:

Event ID: 10009
Source: DCOM
Type: Error
Description: Dcom was unable to communicate with the computer computer name using any of the configured protocols.

If you restart the computer, and then you open Disk Management, you do not receive the error message.

This problem occurs because of a mismatch in the computer name and the name that the RPC service expects. This mismatch may occur if the computer name is changed by using one of the following methods:

• The Microsoft System Preparation (Sysprep) tool was used to create the Windows XP image that you used to start the computer.
• You change the computer name during the Windows XP Out of Box Experience.
• One or more of the following conditions are true:
  • You disconnect the network cable during the Windows XP Out of Box Experience.
  • You do not restart the computer after the Windows XP Out of Box Experience has completed.
  • You open Disk Management.

To work around this problem, restart the computer at least one time after the Windows XP Out of Box Experience has completed, and before you open Disk Management.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.Microsoft is researching this problem and will post more information in this article when the information becomes available.