XADM: System Attendant Generates Error 5 "Access Denied" After Upgrading to Windows 2000 Server (260338)

SYMPTOMS

When you install Exchange Server 5.5 on a drive other than the system drive on a server that has been upgraded to Windows 2000 Server, setup may not work and one of the following error messages may be displayed:

Error 5 "Access denied."

-or-

While attempting to start the Microsoft Exchange System Attendant Service, the following error was encountered:
Access is denied.
Microsoft Windows NT ID no: 0xc0020005

The following Event ID 7000 with Service Control Manager as the source is logged in the System log:

The Microsoft Exchange System Attendant service failed to start due to the following error: The service did not start due to a logon failure.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Everyone group has been removed from the permissions on this drive and another account or group has been added. Although the account that is used to install Exchange Server may have Full Control permissions for this drive, the domain system account specifically needs to have Full Control permissions for the drive where the Exchsrvr\Bin folder is located for the Exchange Server services to start successfully.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, add the domain system account to the drive where Exchange Server is installed:

Right-click the drive, and then click Properties.
Click the Security tab.
Make sure that the Look in box contains the domain name.
Add the system account.

Make sure that you add this account to both the root and Exchsrvr folders. You may need to run setup again.

MORE INFORMATION

The domain system account is not displayed in Active Directory Users and Computers. You have to add it from the Security tab of the folder.