You cannot view certificate information in Windows Internet Explorer 7 or in Certificate Manager if you use an unattended answer file to install Windows Vista

After you successfully import a certificate on a Windows Vista-based computer, you cannot view the certificate information in Windows Internet Explorer 7 or in Certificate Manager.

This problem occurs if you do not have Read permissions for the following registry subkey: This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

• You used an unattended setup process to install Windows Vista.
• The unattended answer file (Autounattend.xml) includes the following tag:
  <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
• The operating system image was resealed by using the sysprep generalize command.

In this scenario, the user who runs the Out Of Box Experience (OOBE) Wizard is not assigned Read permissions for the ProtectedRoots registry key. Instead, the Administrator account is assigned Read permissions for this key. However, the certificate information that is displayed in Internet Explorer 7 or in Certificate Manager is stored in the ProtectedRoots registry key. Therefore, the user who is currently logged on to the computer cannot view the certificate information.

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Vista. 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 do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

Hotfix installation information

To make sure that the user profile that is currently logged on overwrites the default user profile, set the CopyProfile tag to true. This hotfix must be installed before the Windows Vista setup process generalizes and overwrites the default user profile.

If you already have run the sysprep command together with the /generalize option, follow these steps:

1. Start the Windows Vista setup process.
2. When the OOBE Wizard is running, press Ctrl+Shift+F3 to enter Audit mode, and then install this hotfix.
3. To restart the OOBE Wizard, execute the following command:
   sysprep.exe /oobe/generalize/unattend:Autounattend.xml
   Note The Autounattend.xml is an XML file that includes the <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile> tag.

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 Vista, 32-bit versions

Windows Vista, 64-bit 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 Vista Service Pack 1.

For more information about this issue on a Windows Vista-based computer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: