Err Msg: Protected Storage Failed to Start

ID: Q189649

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

After you install Service Pack 1 for Internet Explorer 4.01, you may receive the following error messages in the event viewer:

Event ID: 7000
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Protected Storage service failed to start due to the following
error: The system cannot find the path specified.



Event ID: 7000
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Certificate Authority service depends on the Protected Storage
service which failed to start because of the following error:
The system cannot find the path specified.



Event ID: 7000
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None



The IIS Admin Service depends on the Protected Storage service
which failed to start because of the following error:
The system cannot find the path specified.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The FTP Publishing Service depends on the IIS Admin Service
service which failed to start because of the following error:
The dependency service does not exist or has been marked for deletion.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The World Wide Web Publishing Service depends on the IIS Admin
Service which failed to start because of the following error:
The dependency service does not exist or has been marked for deletion.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Site Server LDAP Service depends on the IIS Admin Service
service which failed to start because of the following error:
The dependency service or group failed to start.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Microsoft NNTP Service depends on the IIS Admin Service service which failed to start because of the following error: The dependency service or group failed to start.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Microsoft SMTP Service depends on the IIS Admin Service
service which failed to start because of the following error:
The dependency service or group failed to start.

Event ID: 10005
Source: DCOM
Type: Error
Category: None

DCOM got error "The dependency service does not exist or has been
marked for deletion. " attempting to start the service IISADMIN with
arguments "" in order to run the server: {A9E69610-B80D-11D0-B9B9-
00A0C922E750}


CAUSE

The Protected Storage service registry key is missing from the registry.

NOTE: Before proceeding with the workaround, verify that the Protected Storage service registry key is missing. The ProtectedStorage service registry key is located at the following path: 


   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services


WORKAROUND

To resolve this issue, register the Protected Service to the Windows NT Registry, by performing the following steps:

  1. Type the following command at a command prompt:

    <drive>:\%SystemRoot%\System32\pstores.exe -install

    NOTE: <drive> is the drive where the Windows NT system folder is installed.


  2. Close all programs and restart the computer.


NOTE: This same command can be used to remove the Protected Storage keys. If you run this command and the registry key is there, it may remove it along with all of the other Protected Storage keys.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Internet Explorer version 4.01 Service Pack 1.

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : prodNT4OP 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.01; winnt:3.0,4.0
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 19, 1999