XADM: Error 2140 When Attempting To Start Key Management Server (184420)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5

This article was previously published under Q184420

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start the Microsoft Exchange Key Management Server Service that is set to manual following a new install of Exchange Server 5.5, you may get the following error:

Could not start the Microsoft Exchange Key Management Server service on \\Server.
Error 2140: An internal Windows NT error occurred.

The following event will also be logged in the Windows NT Application Log:

   Event ID: 5057
   Source:   MSExchangeKMS
   Type:     None
   Category: None
   Description:

The supplied password is not valid.

CAUSE

When you started the Key Management Server Service that is set to manual (in Control Panel, Services), you did not provide the password that was given when the Key Management Server Setup was run and the following option was selected:

Display this password once. I will write it down and enter it manually on startup.

A sample password is:

Key Management Server Password
HZGYYHACWLQACTI

WORKAROUND

Enter the Key Management Server password in the Startup Parameters Box that corresponds to the Key Management Server Service in Control Panel Services by performing the following steps:

In Control Panel, click the Services icon.
Highlight Microsoft Key Management Server Service.
Enter the Key Management Server password that was provided during setup to the Startup Parameter box.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, please refer to page 45 of Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Operations.

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	4/21/2005
Keywords:	kbprb KB184420