Recovery Operation for Certificate Server May Invalidate Certificate Authority Keys

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This article was previously published under Q235964

SYMPTOMS

If you back up certificate files from an existing certificate server and restore them to a second certificate server, when you reinstall the second certificate server you may find that the key at the end of the Use Existing Keys list in the Setup window is invalid. In addition, the key that corresponds to your Certificate Authority name may be invalid.

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CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the SYSOCMGR command used to reinstall Certificate Server adds an invalid key to the registry.

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RESOLUTION

Windows NT Server or Workstation 4.0

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E396D059-E402-46EF-B095-A74399E25737&displaylang=en/ (http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/ServicePacks/) -or-
152734 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/152734/EN-US/ ) how to obtain the latest windows nt 4.0 service pack

For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;cntactms)

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Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/152734/EN-US/ ) How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition.

This problem was first corrected in Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6.

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MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Certificate Server, refer to the following Release Notes included with Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack:

Microsoft Certificate Server Version 1.0 Release Notes
Internet Information Server Version 4.0 Release Notes

To ensure successful installation, the new certificate server must be based on the code obtained from the Certificate Server QFE. The Certificate Server QFE is available at the following FTP site:

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/iis/iis-public/fixes/usa/certserv/ (ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/iis/iis-public/fixes/usa/certserv/)

For additional information about how to restore a certificate server and the tools involved, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

184695 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/184695/EN-US/ ) Readme Notes for Certificate Server Update

185195 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/185195/EN-US/ ) How to Use Key and Certificate Backup/Restore Utility

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