I want to create a certificate for use with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) on an IIS 5.0 server. When I run the Web Server Certificate Wizard, I receive the error message Certificate Request Failed. An Internal Error Occurred. I rechecked the IIS installation and verified the values in the certificate, and everything seems correct. How can I get the certificate request to work?

I have encountered this error message from time to time. It can occur when Windows 2000's cryptography system has an inconsistency. Although I don't know what causes the problem, I know how to fix it: In the registry, delete the TYPE 001 entry from the HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography\Providers subkey. The TYPE 001 entry can also cause problems when you import certificates and install certificate services.

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Reader Comments

Does that registry key exist on Windows 2000? I'm having this exact problem, but this key does not exist! Did you just lift this article staright from the Microsoft Knowledgebase? Such tactics have been known...

I can find a similar key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\Defaults\Provider Types\Type 001

Abdul- February 17, 2004