Issues with starting secure store service application

Hi

We wanted to use performance point services to implement KPI dashboards and  I started first by starting the secure store services and performance point services. Then I tried to create a secure store service application where I got stuck for more than 2 weeks. i have not been able to create the secure store service application under manage service applications. I provided all the details for creating new service application and when pressed ok, it kept on processing and processing and nothing happens. It keeps saying please wait, changes are being processed but nothing happens. It probably hangs i believe. It shows the status as staring against Secure store service application. I searched the net and tried various options and still no result. I am not sure how to make the secure store service application to change its status from starting... we restarted the server. Same result.  Has anyone come across the same situation like this? Pls help.

Cheers