max number of secrets has been exceeded! what the heck!

[bigbutt100]

ok people, I plug a usb flash drive into a win xp sp3 home laptop.

I then get the message "The max number of secrets has been exceeded" what the heck!

- I have deep scanned it with bitdefender 2010 fully updated and no virus's found.

- I also cleaned up the registry errors with tuneup utilities 2009 and then restarted.

What registry key can I fix? Anyone know? This question is all over the net and I have  not found any registry key settings to fix it. (I believe the registry could fix this problem).

[BillRichardson]

"The max number of secrets has been exceeded"

The max number of secrets has been exceeded

TechNetPlease WaitTechNet


Internet Information Services

Message:Error Message:
"The maximum number of secrets that may be stored in a single system has been exceeded. "

Explanation:

A secret is an encrypted piece of information, such as a password or user name.User Action:

Contact the supplier of the running application.

Information from the following site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc978929.aspx#mainSection

[BC_Programmer]

What registry key can I fix? Anyone know? This question is all over the net and I have  not found any registry key settings to fix it. (I believe the registry could fix this problem).

I doubt it.

This is error is caused, as billrich stated, when a system has too many Secrets- like stored passwords, or really any bit of encrypted data. this limit is imposed by the US government for some reason. It's not specific to IIS server and is in fact a Standard windows error message, like File not found and so forth.

Anyway, the only <documented> fix is to reinstall the OS. however, in many cases - and especially considering the fact that your plugging in a flash drive - this is caused by malware.

Follow the malware guide here; I am aware you've stated you did a full scan with bitdefender but really that is meaningless; any single AV program can miss a single infection, additionally, it might not even be an infection in your PC but rather a infection on the flash drive in question. But first, a few more questions:

-Is this error only occuring with a specific flash drive, or any flash drive you connect? Are thy encrypted? are they "U3 Smart" enabled?
-Do you get the message with other USB devices?
-Does the flash drive still appear in windows explorer after you receive the error?

[Helpmeh]

The op stated that he "deep scanned" it, implying the flash drive was the object that was scanned, but you still make a good point: AV scanners don't catch everything.

@OP: You should go to the malware section of the forum to try and fix this solution.

[rthompson80819]

This one really puzzled me.  When I Googled the error message, most of the posts seemed to be involved in copying DVDs.

The US government set a limit on how many encrypted files can be exported (4096) and it seems somehow DVD copy programs bump into this limit.

No computer except a network server or web site would have 4096 passwords and most of the error messages seem to be on home computers.

Not sure why a flash drive would be a problem unless you have some DVD copying program on it.

[bigbutt100]

ok guys encryption draws a red flag for me because bitdefender has file encryption settings.

Although why is this all over the net? I'm sure not everyone has bitdefender. I don't think that is the cause.

Ok the flash drive has been used on about 50 computers and has been scanned by bitdefender and norton 360.

The flash drive is safe and doesn't ever cause this error on any other computer. only this random laptop that I have turned inside out without formatting it.

   Thanks guys... Any other smart people know anything?
 

[bigbutt100]

I scanned with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.44 & SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition 4.33.1000

The programs found 2 bad cookie files then I restarted the machine.

Still no luck guys

Anyone know what to do?
 

[Helpmeh]

The op stated that he "deep scanned" it, implying the flash drive was the object that was scanned, but you still make a good point: AV scanners don't catch everything.

@OP: You should go to the malware section of the forum to try and fix this solution.

[bigbutt100]

I scanned with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.44 & SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition 4.33.1000

The programs found 2 bad cookie files then I restarted the machine.

THIS IS WHAT THE MALWARE SECTION SAYS TO DO.

[bigbutt100]

caps not indended sorry

[Helpmeh]

I scanned with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.44 & SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition 4.33.1000

The programs found 2 bad cookie files then I restarted the machine.

THIS IS WHAT THE MALWARE SECTION SAYS TO DO.

The malware section says to post the logs so an expert can look at them to see if you actually ARE infected.