Err Msg: Protective Storage Failed to Start

Last reviewed: July 31, 1998
Article ID: Q190020

The information in this article applies to:

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 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.

CAUSE

The Protective 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:

Type the following command at a command prompt:
```
      <drive>:\%SystemRoot%\System32\pstores.exe -install
```
where <drive> is the drive where the Windows NT System folder is installed.
Close all programs and restart the computer.

NOTE: This same command can be used to remove the Protected Storage keys. If you run this command and the registry key is there, it will remove it along with all of the other Pstore keys.

STATUS

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

Keywords          : prodiis4 iis4faq prodNT4OP
Version           : WINDOWS:4.01; WINNT:3.0,4.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

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