Article ID: 815229 - Last Review: February 1, 2007 - Revision: 4.4

When using sysprep.exe, passwords cannot be saved

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Notice
Since the following functionality also uses Protected Storage Service, they may not work as expected:
-Password save in Internet Explorer
-Auto Complete in Internet Explorer
-Subscription in Internet Explorer
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IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS

When the sysprep tool has been used to install Windows XP or Windows 2000, there are cases in which checking the “Save Password” box in Internet Explorer or Outlook Express does not work. This occurs when the user has logged in as an existing user (such as Administrator) prior to running the sysprep tool.
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CAUSE

If you run the sysprep tool, the SID is changed, but the SID change causes the Protected Storage Service to malfunction.
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RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, delete keys beginning with the letter “S” within the following registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage Provider

  • Close Protected Storage Service
  • Run REGEDT32.EXE
  • Choose
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage Provider
  • Delete keys beginning with the letter “S”
  • Go to the Security menu, and select Authorize Access
  • Click Add, and add the current user. Choose Full Control for authorized access.
  • Click Delete, and delete the key itself
  • Restart computer

If the above steps are completed prior to running the sysprep tool, users added after the fact will be able to save passwords successfully.
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STATUS

This issue has been verified within Microsoft, and is under investigation. When further details are understood, they will be added to this article.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5
  • Microsoft Office XP Standard Edition
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Keywords: 
kbsecurity kbdeployment kbprb KB815229
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