Error message when you try to merge records in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0: "The user authentication passed to the platform is not valid"

When you try to merge records in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0, you receive the following error message: This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

• The records that you try to merge are in different accounts.
• One of these accounts is owned by a user who was deleted in Active Directory directory service.
• The other account is owned by a user who is a valid Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 user.

This problem was corrected in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Update Rollup 3.
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server

Microsoft Dynamics CRM client for Outlook

Installation information

Install this hotfix on computers that are running Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Server or the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 laptop client for Outlook. After you apply this hotfix, delete the temporary Internet files in Windows Internet Explorer.

Prerequisites

You must have Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Server, the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 laptop client for Outlook, or the hotfix in the following article installed to apply this hotfix:

Restart requirement

If you are prompted, restart the computer after you install the hotfix.

Removal information

To remove this hotfix from a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows XP, or Microsoft Windows 2000, use the Add or Remove Programs item in Control Panel. System administrators can use the Spuninst.exe tool to remove this hotfix from a computer that is running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000.

The Spuninst.exe tool is located in the %Windir%\$NTUninstallKB931371$\Spuninst folder.

For more information about the terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: