Windows – How to Start/Stop a Windows Service in Safe Mode

Here is something to try:

1. Find the SPSearch service in the W2K8 Services tab.
2. Right click the service and shut down. You might, as I did, receive an error stating that the handler is wrong. (BTW: make sure that you are logged into the server as the farm service account just to be safe)
3. Click on the Services button from here... you could have gone and managed the services directly from the management console also.
4. Goto SPSsearch>Properties>Log On tab. Make Logon as local system account.
5. Stop the service
6. Make Logon as your service account. Add the passwords
7. Start up type should be automatic. Then start the service here.
8. Go back to the Central Administration page.
9. Start the Service from here if it isn't started.

At this point you should have a working service both on the server and within the Farm Context. At least I did. Your milage may vary

The first step is to assess for possible file system damage, especially since you are experiencing boot difficulties - chkdsk...