PRB: System Error Message "&H80004015" Running ActiveX DLL in IDE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYMPTOMS
While attempting to run an ActiveX dll from the Visual Basic IDE, the following error message is displayed:
System error &H80004015(-2147467243). The class is configured to run as a security ID different from the caller.
CAUSE
When Visual Basic runs an ActiveX dll from the IDE, it calls the CoRegisterClassObject API to temporarily register the server. This creates the AppId and specifies it to run in the Interactive User context.
The problem is due to a bug in the Microsoft OLE Libraries 4.0, which are included with the Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (SDK). CoRegisterClassObject fails with the error message given earlier under the following conditions:
If the ActiveX server calling the API is set to run using the "Interactive User" identity.
-and-
The string associated with the following registry key contains any value other than a single valid executable name for the shell process:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Shell=
Under Windows 2000, this error occurs when the Certificate Authority service does not start.
RESOLUTION
Make certain that the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Shell= registry key contains a single valid executable name for the shell process.
To resolve this problem under Windows 2000, you can install the "Client for Microsoft Network" component and then reboot.
See the "REFERENCES" section of this article for instructions on how to handle this error when it is related to the Certificate Authority on systems that are running Windows 2000.