Event ID: 1517 occurs when users who use roaming profiles encrypt files on a Windows Server 2003-based file server

Consider the following scenario. A user uses a roaming profile to log on to a domain. Then, the user accesses shared folders on a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based file server. When this user encrypts a file on the file server, a miniprofile is created for the user on the file server. However, this miniprofile is not deleted as expected. And, the following event is logged in the Application log on the file server:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Userenv
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1517
Date: Date
Time: Time
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: Computer name
Description: Windows saved user domain_name\user registry while an application or service was still using the registry during log off. The memory used by the user's registry has not been freed. This is often caused by services running as a user account, try configuring the services to run in the local system account.

This behavior occurs if the following conditions are true:

• The Delete cached copies of roaming profiles Group Policy setting is enabled on the file server.
• The roaming profile for the user does not have an Encrypting File System (EFS) key. A roaming profile may not have an EFS key if the user has never encrypted a file.

This problem occurs because EFS does not release the certificate chain cache. Therefore, the roaming profile cannot be unloaded.

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, 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. 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.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) 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 item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions

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

This problem was first corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

The miniprofile that is described in the "Symptoms" section is used to store EFS keys on the file server. This miniprofile is located in the following path:You expect this miniprofile to be deleted after the EFS key is created and used. If the miniprofile is not deleted, an event ID 1517 message will be logged frequently on the file server. If lots of users encrypt files on the file server, the miniprofiles that are not deleted will use disk space.