Computer account expiration may cause authentication problems in Windows 2000

The Microsoft Exchange Routing Engine service (also known as RESVC) cannot connect to the routing group master server. When this problem occurs, you may receive information similar to the following in the Netlogon.log file on the member server that is running Microsoft Exchange Server:

This problem may occur if the computer account password has expired. The password may expire if the DisablePasswordChange registry entry has been changed to 1 (the default setting is 0). Exchange Server connects using the computer account for authentication, and several services (such as the Microsoft Exchange Routing Engine service) use the computer account for authentication. For additional information about the effects of computer account replication on a domain, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfix Information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Installation information

For this hotfix to work correctly, you must apply it to all the domain controllers in the domain.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart Requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix Replacement Information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File Information

The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To work around this problem, change the DisablePasswordChange registry entry to 0 on the member server computer that is running Exchange Server:

1. Click Start, click Run, type Regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetLogon\Parameters
3. Back up the registry key:
   1. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File.
   2. In the File name box, type a name for the backup file, and then click Save.
4. Double-click the DisablePasswordChange registry entry.
5. Change the value in the Value Data box to 0.
6. Click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

For additional information about how hotfix packages are named, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: