RPC server unavailable message when logging in. Unable to shut down or restart. What is causing this

[alexcurmi]

Hi, 

I recently bought my HP Zbook Stuido G3 second hand and did a fresh install of windows 11, and downloaded some apps. Today, when booting up, my Microsoft spotlight Lock Screen was gone and when I went to sign in, I got an error message saying ‘RPC server unavailable’ and I was not able to log in. I then tried to restart my computer but pressing restart or shut down just made the screen flicker and it didn’t turn off. 

I tried holding down the power button until the button light went dark and didn’t flash, but when powering up the same issue occurred. It didn’t load to the logo either, only the default Lock Screen. 

After doing some research online, someone else said booting into safe mode worked for them. I tried this  (and failed) but weirdly, after holding down the off button for 10 seconds, the computer actually shut down so that when I booted up I saw the logo, instead of just turning on to the Lock Screen. I did this 3 times, then the computer loaded normally and let me log in. 

This has left me quite puzzled and I have some questions:

1. What caused this RPC error and inability to shut down? Could it be that I downloaded a virus when trying to install my apps from online? 

2. Why didn’t my computer shut down fully when the power button was pressed for about 5 seconds (it wasn’t in sleep, it just booted straight to the Lock Screen) but it did when the power button was pressed for 10 seconds (this made it boot to the logo)?

3. Unrelated, but am I able to use my 19.5v, 2.31A adapters with this computer? It came with a 19.5v, 7.7A adapter. I know it will charge slower but are there any safety issues with me using the lower powered ones so I don’t have to keep bringing my new adapter everywhere? 

I really appreciate it! Tech can be confusing sometimes haha. Thank you 

[banhien]

@alexcurmi 

Please try

            https://www.systweak.com/blogs/how-to-solve-rpc-server-is-unavailable-in-windows/

Regards.

[alexcurmi]

Thank you. I checked everything in the guide and it seems fine. If I understood correctly then it must have been caused by two interfering processes, but I was unable to figure out how this occurred. 

Why was I unable to log in though? And why couldn’t I shut down the computer? Were the interfering processes being used to boot the computer or something? 

many thanks,

Alex