SQL Server 2005 and Windows 8.1 - Getting error 1053 when trying to start sqlexpress service We've been running SQL Server 2005 and Windows 8.1. Today for the first time we can't get sqlexpress running in services. It was running fine yesterday. 

Getting 


  error 1053 - service did not respond to the start or control request.  


What steps should I take to troubleshoot this?  Thanks.
SQL Server Express does not have SQL Server Agent, so it won't start, no matter how hard you try. 

Which service does not start? SQL Server or SQL Server Agent? For SQL Server, please refer to this great article by Gail Shaw.