You cannot add a Windows component in Windows XP

When you try to add a Windows component after you first install Microsoft Windows XP, you cannot add the component, and you may receive a message that is similar to the following: This problem occurs even though the file already exists in the C:\Windows\I386 folder. When you provide the path of the file, the error message reappears.

When this error occurs, an entry that is similar to the following appears in the C:\Windows\Security\logs\scecomp.log file:This issue has also been found to prevent third-party hardware and software from installing. Specifically, you may experience this symptom after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) on a computer that has a built-in Atheros wireless network device and when you then try to install a Bluetooth device.

This problem occurs when you try to install one or more of the following Windows components:

• Accessories and Utilities
• Fax services
• Indexing Service
• Internet Explorer
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• Management and Monitoring Tools
• Message Queuing
• MSN Explorer
• Networking Services
• Other Network File and Print Services
• Outlook Express
• Update Root Certificates
• Windows Media Player
• Windows Messenger

This problem occurs because the security database is corrupted.

Note We do not recommend that you use the Esentutl.exe utility to recover from security database corruption. The Esentutl.exe utility fixes corruption by deleting data from the database and could possibly permanently mark Group Policy settings in the registry. Only use this kind of repair as a last resort.

To resolve this problem, rebuild the corrupted security database. For additional information about how to rebuild a corrupted security database, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

To prevent this problem from occurring when Windows XP is installed, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the following hotfix package. To use the updated fix that is contained in this hotfix, create a Windows XP distribution file share, and then replace the existing driver with the updated driver that is contained in this hotfix. This will prevent the problem that is described in the Symptoms section from occuring when Windows XP is installed. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: You must follow the instructions in Knowledge Base article 828930 to slipstream the hotfix to your distribution file share.

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. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

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, contact 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.

File information

The English version of this hotfix 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.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For additional information about the terminology that is used in this article, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.