The answer to this may be identical to the problem with full blown SQL Server (NTService\MSSQLSERVER) and this is to reset the password. The ironic thing is, there is no password.
Steps are:
- Right click on the Service in the Services mmc
- Click Properties
- Click on the Log On tab
- The password fields will appear to have entries in them…
- Blank out both Password fields
- Click “OK”
This should re-grant access to the service and it should start up again. Weird?
NOTE: if the problem comes back after a few hours or days, then you probably have a group policy which is overriding your settings and it’s coming and taking the right away again.