Microsoft KB Archive/248739

= IIS Fails to Run on a Sysprep Cloned System =

Article ID: 248739

Article Last Modified on 2/23/2004

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Personal Web Server 4.0
 * Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0

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This article was previously published under Q248739



SYMPTOMS
Internet Information Server (IIS) and Personal Web Server (PWS) services fail to run on a system that was cloned by using SYSPREP. In addition, one of the following error messages may occur when you try to use the IIS or PWS Microsoft Management Console (MMC):

Unable to enumerate files and directories because the following error occurred: The system cannot find the path specified.

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Invalid configuration error occurred reading or setting configuration parameter.



CAUSE
Each Windows NT Server 4.0 system that is installed or cloned by using SYSPREP has a unique machine key. When the IIS or PWS services are installed, the computer-specific entries created in the metabase are encrypted by using a session key, which is created from the unique machine key. Therefore, the cloned system fails to decrypt certain parts of the cloned metabase, which are essential in running the IIS and PWS services.



WORKAROUND
If you must clone systems with IIS or PWS services installed, perform the cloning on the base Windows NT system, and then use the Windows NT Option Pack (NTOP) unattended installation as a post-clone activity.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

219717 NTOP Has Not Been Tested with the Current Configuration.

Keywords: kbprb KB248739

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