Error code 800401E4 - Invalid syntax

Hello all:

I started seeing this error whenever I would attempt to start any
server-activated COM+ apps (mine or OS-related) from the dcomcnfg utility.
In researching this issue, I found others with the same problem but no one
with a solution. Well, due to time constraints I could not take more time
to discover ehat the problem was so I opened a support incident. The issue
was fixed promptly and I am posting this for others who find themselves in a
similar situation.

>From MS dev support:

Issue:

======

Whenever you try to manually restart any COM+ application on your Windows XP
SP2 machine you would get the following error and the COM+ application would
not start:

Catalog Error

An error occurred while processing the last operation

Error code 800401E4 - Invalid syntax

Resolution:

===========

We added the following key and value as noted below:

KEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\CLSID

And we set it's (Default) REG_SZ value to
{0000031A-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

That particular value (GUID) above is the CLSID moniker key which is needed
for any CLSID moniker based activations to work. The COM+ System application
uses the "clsid:" moniker with a call to CoGetObject to start any given COM+
application, thus the requirement for its existence.

I've done additional research but we still do not have any insight into how
some users get into this state. The good news is that the fix to correct the
problem is quick.



I hope this helps someone,



Alex




.