XADM: Err Msg: System could not find the path specified (0xC0020003)

ID: Q182814

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you upgrade to Exchange Server 5.5, the upgrade fails and the following error message appears:

System could not find the path specified (0xC0020003)
This occurs immediately after the option to upgrade or uninstall Exchange.


CAUSE

The Key Management (KM) server was not removed completely during a previous upgrade attempt.


WORKAROUND

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To work around this problem, the registry key responsible for the KM service, MSExchangeKMS, must be deleted.

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and locate the following registry subkey in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree: 
    
   System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeKMS


  2. From the Edit menu, select Delete.


  3. Click OK and quit the Registry Editor.



MORE INFORMATION

This workaround allows Exchange Server 5.5 to upgrade the existing server. To regain the functionality of the Key Management server, the KM server must be reinstalled.

Additional query words: KMS 


Keywords          : kbusage XADM 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.5
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 3, 1999