Unable to start “Server for NIS” service; “An error occurred accessing the Windows Registry. Error: %1”

Recently we go an issue where the “Server for NIS” service was not starting on Windows 2003 R2, x64.

The error code as per the vent logs was: Event ID 8194. We referred to the TechNet document https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd316252(v=ws.10).aspx and followed the instruction. But this did not help.

We also checked the schema on the DC and it looks good. Even the registry entries for “server for NFS” were correct. With further troubleshooting found that the size for the Nissvc.exe was incorrect. The file size was for x86 bit O/S and not x64. Informed the customer that nissvc.exe has been installed from incorrect media (x86) on x64 bit O/S.

Customer uninstalled the Server for NIS and then reinstalled it using the correct media. This resolved the issue. Another way to resolve the issue was to update the NIS drivers from the KB https://support.microsoft.com/kb/969839 as this would replace the nissve.exe, x86 bit file with nissve.exe, x64 bit.