SharePoint Server Search - Error Starting

Problem

I recently ran into this snag at a client site while setting up the Search Service Application. I was able to create the service application without a problem however when I attempted to start the SharePoint Server Search service (Manage services on server page) I kept getting Error Starting.

After taking a peak at the logs I found the following:

An attempt to start/stop instance of service SharePoint Server Search on server did not succeed. Re-run the action via UI or command line on the specified server. Additional information is below.
Access is denied. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80070005 (E_ACCESSDENIED))

I double/triple checked the permissions and made sure that my Farm Administrator account was a member of WSS_WPG and WSS_ADMIN_WPG groups, and that those groups had full control permissions to the C:\Windows\Tasks and C:\Windows\Temp folders.

Resolution

I nearly lost hope when I remembered my old lost friend called STSADM.EXE.
Just like in the old days, I navigated to: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\15\BIN and ran the following command:

stsadm -o osearch -action start

Good ol' STSADM.EXE to the rescue.

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