← Back to Knowledge Base

KB #240095: User not being prompted to enter key when SQL starts

⏱️ 1 min read

Type:

Information

Summary:

Even though “??” was specified as the key when building the security profile, SQL hangs at startup and user is not presented with a key entry dialog. NOTE: This is an option when securing SQL and most do not use this method.

Additional Information:

If you have specified ?? (two question marks) as a key when creating the security profile, the user is prompted with a dialog at SQL Startup to enter the key value. In Windows 2008 R2 and later you need to have Windows’ “Interactive Services Detection” Service running in order to interact with a Service from the Desktop:

To start this Service:

  • Start Administrative Tools->Services (run Run “services.msc”).
  • Locate the Interactive Services Detection Service.
  • Start the Service.
  • Change the Start type from Manual to Automatic so it will be started automatically next time you reboot.

If functioning properly, when starting SQL next time you will see an icon flashing on the Task Bar prompting you to interact with a Service.

Was this article helpful?

Related Articles

KB #240025: How to save and email log files and dump files

Type: Information Summary: Log and System Information files will often assist us in diagnosing your…

KB #240135: Key Recovery Instructions

Type: Info Summary: You have lost the information regarding encryption keys, and need assistance to…

KB #240046: Backup not encrypted even though “encrypt new” flag was set

Type: Tip Summary: This article explains why a SQL Backup is not being encrypted, even…

Still need help?

Our support team is here to assist you.

NetLib Security
AI Assistant · Online
Hi! I'm the NetLib Security assistant. I can answer questions about our encryption solutions, HIPAA compliance, Encryptionizer, and more. How can I help you today?