You cannot start Application Sharing or the Whiteboard features in Communicator 2005 (899783)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Communicator 2005
  • Microsoft NetMeeting
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to use Application Sharing or the Whiteboard features in Microsoft Office Communicator 2005, the features do not start.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because Communicator 2005 uses Microsoft NetMeeting for Application Sharing and the Whiteboard features.

Because Communicator 2005 uses NetMeeting, a conflict can occur between the Microsoft Conferencing policy settings and the NetMeeting general security options for outgoing and incoming calls. This conflict occurs on both computers that are trying to establish the session.

When the following settings are enabled on both the receiver and the sender computers, NetMeeting cannot establish a connection between the two computers:
  • The I prefer to receive secure incoming calls. Accept only secure calls when I'm not in a meeting general security option.
  • The I prefer to make secure outgoing calls general security option.
  • The Disable application Sharing policy setting in NetMeeting.

RESOLUTION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To resolve this issue, you must clear all the NetMeeting security settings to let both computers establish a NetMeeting session. To do this, follow these steps.

Note These steps must be performed on each computer that you want to use Application Sharing and the Whiteboard features.

Disable the CallSecurity registry key

Follow these steps, and then quit Registry Editor:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Conferencing\CallSecurity

  3. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  4. Type 0, and then press ENTER.

Clear the NetMeeting settings

  1. Click Start, click Run, type conf.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Security tab.
  3. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  4. Click to clear the I prefer to receive secure incoming calls. Accept only secure calls when I'm not in a meeting check box.
  5. Click to clear the I prefer to make secure outgoing calls check box.
  6. Click OK.

Enable the CallSecurity policy to disable security (encryption)

Follow these steps, and then quit Registry Editor:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Conferencing\CallSecurity

  3. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  4. Type 2, and then press ENTER.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/13/2005
Keywords:kbpolicy kbSecurity kbtshoot kbprb KB899783 kbAudEndUser kbAudITPRO
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