The Password Change Notification Service (PCNS) that is included in Host Integration Server 2004 does not start after you install Windows Server 2003 SP1 (899760)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004
  • Microsoft Identity Integration Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

The Microsoft Password Change Notification Service (Pcnssvc.exe) is included with Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004. After you install Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1), the Password Change Notification Service (PCNS) does not start. When this problem occurs, the following Error event is logged in the Application log: Event ID: 6004
Event Type: Error
Description:
The Password Change Notification service executable "%3 failed while verifying the files signature. The service will not be started and password notifications will not be sent. pcnsfltapi.cpp (484): %2

CAUSE

This problem occurs because of a change in the way path names of service binaries are recorded in the registry. This change puts quotation marks ("") around the binary file name that is stored in the ImagePath registry entry. Therefore, the PCNS signature validation logic that is included in Host Integration Server 2004 can no longer verify the file.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, download and then install an updated version of the PCNS. To download the updated version of the PCNS, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C0964F2E-FA9F-4FC7-AC13-C43928EFEE9D&displaylang=en

Notes
  • The updated version of PCNS also contains fixes to other problems that are not described in this article.
  • Before you install the updated version of PCNS, you must remove the version that is currently on the computer.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem if you cannot update to the latest version of PCNS, remove the quotation marks that enclose the binary file name in the registry.

Note We recommend that you install the latest version of PCNS because other fixes that are not described in this article are included the latest version.

To remove the quotation marks that enclose the binary file name, follow these steps:

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PCNSSVC

  3. Right-click ImagePath, and then click Modify. The Edit String dialog box appears.
  4. In the Value data box, remove the quotation marks that enclose the binary file name, and then click OK.
  5. On the File menu, click Exit.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/17/2005
Keywords:kbpasswords kbinfo kbService kbtshoot kbprb KB899760 kbAudITPRO kbAudDeveloper
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