Event ID 5 — AD CS Registry Settings

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) records critical configuration settings in the registry and may not start or function properly if this information becomes corrupted or is deleted.

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 5
Source: Microsoft-Windows-CertificationAuthority
Version: 6.1
Symbolic Name: MSG_BAD_REGISTRY
Message: Active Directory Certificate Services could not find required registry information. The certification authority may need to be reinstalled.

Resolve

By default, certification authority (CA) registry configuration information is located under **HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\**CA name.

The event log message may contain more specific information that can help you locate the exact location in this hive where the problem exists, such as the following: 

  • The signature algorithm in this registry value is unrecognized:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\CA name\SignatureAlgorithm.

  • The Certificate Date Validity Period string in this registry value is invalid:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\CA name\ValidityPeriod.

    Valid strings for this value are "Seconds," "Minutes," "Hours," "Days," "Weeks," "Months," and "Years."

  • The Certificate Revocation List Period stringin this registry value is invalid:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\CA name\CRLPeriod.

    Valid strings for this value are "Seconds," "Minutes," "Hours," "Days," "Weeks," "Months," and "Years."

  • The Subject Name Template string in this registry value is invalid:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\CA name\SubjectTemplate.

  • Unable to get information about the cryptographic service provider (CSP): HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\CA name\CSP\Provider.

An example of a valid SubjectTemplate string is:

  • CommonName
  • OrganizationalUnit
  • Organization
  • Locality
  • State
  • Country

To perform this procedure, you must have local Admin permission, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

Caution: Incorrectly editing the registry might severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data.

To resolve registry-related problems:

  1. On the computer hosting the CA, click Start, type regedit, and press ENTER.
  2. Look for the registry configuration settings listed above and correct any incorrect values.
  3. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and click Certification Authority.
  4. Right-click the CA name, and click Restart.

Verify

To perform this procedure, you must have Manage CA permission, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To confirm the certification authority (CA) registry settings:

  1. After you have finished making any changes to registry settings for the CA, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and click Certification Authority.
  2. Select the CA name, and click Restart. 
  3. Click Start, type cmd and press ENTER.
  4. Type certutil -getreg ca\security and press ENTER.
  5. If there are no more corrupt settings, the text -getreg command completed successfully will appear. 

AD CS Registry Settings

Active Directory Certificate Services