Err Msg: Protected Storage Failed to Start

• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
• Microsoft Internet Information Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Site Server version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

After you install Service Pack 1 for Internet Explorer 4.01, you may receive the following error messages in the event viewer:

Event ID: 7000
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Protected Storage service failed to start due to the following
error: The system cannot find the path specified.



Event ID: 7000
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Certificate Authority service depends on the Protected Storage
service which failed to start because of the following error:
The system cannot find the path specified.



Event ID: 7000
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None



The IIS Admin Service depends on the Protected Storage service
which failed to start because of the following error:
The system cannot find the path specified.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The FTP Publishing Service depends on the IIS Admin Service
service which failed to start because of the following error:
The dependency service does not exist or has been marked for deletion.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The World Wide Web Publishing Service depends on the IIS Admin
Service which failed to start because of the following error:
The dependency service does not exist or has been marked for deletion.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Site Server LDAP Service depends on the IIS Admin Service
service which failed to start because of the following error:
The dependency service or group failed to start.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Microsoft NNTP Service depends on the IIS Admin Service service which failed to start because of the following error: The dependency service or group failed to start.



Event ID: 7001
Source: Service Control Manager
Type: Error
Category: None

The Microsoft SMTP Service depends on the IIS Admin Service
service which failed to start because of the following error:
The dependency service or group failed to start.

Event ID: 10005
Source: DCOM
Type: Error
Category: None

DCOM got error "The dependency service does not exist or has been
marked for deletion. " attempting to start the service IISADMIN with
arguments "" in order to run the server: {A9E69610-B80D-11D0-B9B9-
00A0C922E750}

CAUSE

The Protected Storage service registry key is missing from the registry.

NOTE: Before proceeding with the workaround, verify that the Protected Storage service registry key is missing. The ProtectedStorage service registry key is located at the following path:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services 

WORKAROUND

To resolve this issue, register the Protected Service to the Windows NT Registry, by performing the following steps:

1. Type the following command at a command prompt:
   
   <drive>:\%SystemRoot%\System32\pstores.exe -install
   
   NOTE: <drive> is the drive where the Windows NT system folder is installed.



2. Close all programs and restart the computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Internet Explorer version 4.01 Service Pack 1.

Additional query words:

Keywords : prodNT4OP
Version : WINDOWS:4.01; winnt:3.0,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbbug