You receive a "Failed to connect to the database server" error message when you try to configure the Single Sign-On feature in SharePoint Portal Server 2003

When you try to configure the Single Sign-On feature in Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003, you receive the following error message:Note You receive this error message even after you verify that your configuration account information is correct.

This problem occurs if Microsoft Windows Installer version 3.0 or Microsoft Windows Installer version 3.1 is installed on the computer that is running SharePoint Portal Server 2003.

Note Windows Installer 3.0 is installed when you update to the latest version of Microsoft Windows Update. You are automatically prompted to install the latest version of Windows Update when you visit the Microsoft Windows Update Web site. Additionally, Windows Installer 3.1 is automatically installed when you install Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Windows Installer 3.0 and Windows Installer 3.1 incorrectly insert quotation marks (") around the value of the ImagePath registry entry in the following registry subkey:

To resolve this problem, remove the quotation marks from the value of the ImagePath registry entry, and then restart the Microsoft Single Sign-On service. To do this, follow these steps.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\ssosrv
3. In the right pane, right-click ImagePath, and then click Modify.
4. Remove the quotation marks from the path that is displayed in the Value data box.
   
   This path resembles the following path, depending on your installation folder:
   C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Microsoft Single Sign-on\SSOSRV.EXE
5. Exit Registry Editor.
6. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
7. Click Microsoft Single Sign-On, and then click Restart Service on the toolbar.
8. Exit the Services add-in.

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

For more information about how to configure Single Sign-On in SharePoint Portal Server 2003, visit the following Microsoft Web site: