Error message when you request a certificate from a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1: "The certificate request failed because of one of the following conditions�"

When you use the Certificates snap-in to request a computer certificate or a user certificate, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Message 1

Message 2

This problem may occur when Certificate Services is enabled on a host computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1).

This problem may occur if the client computer is missing the EnableDCOM registry entry.

The EnableDCOM registry entry is located in the following registry subkey:

To resolve this problem, confirm that the problem is not related to the certification authority (CA). Then, add the missing registry entry.

Follow these steps to make sure that the problem is not related to the CA.

Note This procedure requires that you use the Cominfo.exe utility. To obtain the Cominfo.exe utility, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

1. Verify that the CA and all its parent CA certificates are trusted and valid.
2. Make sure that the certificate template's discretionary access control list (DACL) on the CA includes the Authenticated Users group. If the Authenticated Users group is removed from the DACL, the CA can no longer read the template in Active Directory. Therefore, the CA cannot issue certificates.
3. On the client computer, type the following commands at a command prompt. Press ENTER after each command.
   certutil �template
   certutil �dump
   Note The first command displays the user's permissions on the available templates. An "Access denied" status appears for each certificate template that cannot be used by the user who is currently logged on. The second command displays a list of enterprise CAs.
4. Type the following command to find the common name (CN) of the CA, and then press ENTER:
   certutil �dump | findstr config
5. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   set config=CAMachineDNSName\CACommonName
6. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   certutil �config "%config%" �ping
   You may receive an "Access denied" message.
7. Type the following command to export a CA exchange certificate, and then press ENTER:
   certutil �config "%config%" �cainfo xchg
   You may receive a message that resembles the following:
   Exported CA Exchange Certificate to xchg.cer
8. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   certutil �config "%config%" �verify �urlfetch xchg.cer
   You may receive a message that resembles the following:
   CertUtil -verify command FAILED: 0x8009310b (ASN: 267)
9. Run the Cominfo.exe utility to collect DCOM information.
   
   The Cominfo.exe utility may produce output that resembles the following:
   DCOM Installed
   The value EnableDCOM is not present under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Ole. [Warning: You are likely to get error RPC_E_REMOTE_DISABLED if you run DCOM applications in this machine.]
   This message confirms that the problem is related to the missing registry entry.

To add the EnableDCOM registry entry, 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 the 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\Software\Microsoft\Ole
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click String Value.
4. Type EnableDCOM, and then press ENTER.
5. Right-click EnableDCOM, and then click Modify.
6. Type Y in the Value data box, and then click OK.
7. Exit Registry Editor.

For more information about a similar problem, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the changes to DCOM security settings after you install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: