"Error Writing Encrypted Data" Error During IIS 5.0 Installation

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This article was previously published under Q282775

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SYMPTOMS

During the installation or re-installation of Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0, you may receive the following error message:

"Error Writing Encrypted Data to the Web Services Configuration Database."

The installation halts, and you are prompted to Retry, Write unencrypted, or Write unencrypted all.

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CAUSE

This error occurs because of incorrect (corrupt) information. If this is a new installation of IIS 5.0, the corrupt information is located in the following folder:

%Windir%\Documents and Settings\

If you are re-installing IIS, the corrupt information is located in the following folder:

%Windir%\Profiles\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

If you are still prompted to retry, delete all keys except the key that corresponds to the start of the latest installation from the MachineKeys folder. This key has a date/time stamp that corresponds to the time that you started your last installation.

-or-

If the installation is cancelled or did not complete successfully, use Windows Explorer to remove encryption from the %Windir%\Profiles\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys folder. To this, follow these steps:
1. Right-click the folder, and then click Properties.
2. On the General tab, click Advanced.
3. Clear the Encrypt contents to secure data check box, and then click OK. If this check box is NOT already selected, rename the MachineKeys folder to "OldMachineKeys".
Log off, and then log back on as Local Administrator. The installation or reinstallation of IIS 5.0 should complete successfully.