SQL Server does not start because a service account could not be authenticated

Applies To
Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 Essentials Windows Server 2012 Foundation Windows Server 2012 Foundation Windows Server 2012 Standard Windows Server 2012 Standard

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

  • You set up an instance of Microsoft SQL Server and then join it to a domain in Microsoft Azure.
  • You configure the instance of SQL Server to start by using a domain account.
  • You use a user principal name (UPN)-formatted domain account or a group Managed Service Account (gMSA) to start the instance of SQL Server.

In this scenario, the instance of SQL Server does not start because the account could not be authenticated.

Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft Support. 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 the problem described in this article. 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, go to the following Microsoft website:

http:⁠//support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support 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

To apply this hotfix, you must be running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any previously released hotfix.

File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 file information and notesImportant Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows 8" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 8" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM,SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

    Version Product Milestone Service branch
    6.2.920 0.20 xxx Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 RTM LDR
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Services.exe 6.2.9200.20998 332,288 25-Mar-2014 04:32 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Services.exe 6.2.9200.20998 411,136 25-Mar-2014 05:01 x64

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8

File name Package_1_for_kb2954740~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not applicable
File size 2,066
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 19:38
Platform Not applicable
File name Package_2_for_kb2954740~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not applicable
File size 2,068
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 19:38
Platform Not applicable
File name Package_3_for_kb2954740~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not applicable
File size 2,077
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 19:38
Platform Not applicable
File name Package_for_kb2954740_rtm~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not applicable
File size 2,666
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 19:38
Platform Not applicable
File name X86_3f55d434f5622d31a4ae060fe642c675_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20998_none_767e92571d7bfad8.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 721
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 19:38
Platform Not applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-s..cecontroller-minwin_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20998_none_3c46a8d4e72c1710.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 9,466
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 05:04
Platform Not applicable

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

File name Amd64_38a40bd9cd340c722ab406ee9f6e1aef_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20998_none_3479b85fb97e0b29.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 725
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 20:22
Platform Not applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-s..cecontroller-minwin_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.20998_none_986544589f898846.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 9,473
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 08:11
Platform Not applicable
File name Package_1_for_kb2954740~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not applicable
File size 2,078
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 20:22
Platform Not applicable
File name Package_2_for_kb2954740~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not applicable
File size 2,542
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 20:22
Platform Not applicable
File name Package_3_for_kb2954740~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not applicable
File size 2,089
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 20:22
Platform Not applicable
File name Package_for_kb2954740_rtm~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.2.1.0.mum
File version Not applicable
File size 3,146
Date (UTC) 25-Mar-2014
Time (UTC) 20:22
Platform Not applicable

      

Status

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

References

Learn about the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe software updates.