I presume you are talking about this MSKB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;246183

It most likely applies to WinXP also, since both Win2k and WinXP are quite similar and built upon the same base.

Should Win2K and XP both have the same registry entries?

I do not have "HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Cryptography"

A find reveals only one Cryptography entry in the registry and that does not have Providers below it.

When I try net start "protected storage"

I get

> net start "protected storage"
The requested service has already been started.

More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2182.


Thanks


Is it now safe to "Delete all of the files in the "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\S-1-5-18" folder." as per Microsofts suggestion?

My XP registry doesn't have that entry, either; I don't think it would be safe to proceed with the MS article's suggestions.  Here is another page I found about your error that might be more applicable:

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBL/tip5500/rh5582.htm

I had seen that page and was not sure it was for XP SP2.

Anyway I tried it and when I renamed original Mstask.dll a new one popped up in its place.

(I'm more used to UNIX where that just dosen't happen!) .

I stopped than started the scheduler and firt time i doubled clicked a job, I was propted for user that was running it and users password. I gave this info - thought it was solved - but no...

Do microsoft not have a reference site for all their messages?  I've seen this problem reported a few time on the web (google) but never a solution. I feell that if I could understand what "0x80090016: Keyset does not exist" meant and why the scheduler should be trying to use the cryptographic sib-system anyway I might get somewhere - (or maybe not).

Do you have any other ideas or how do I get this problem back up the list so someone else might see it?

SOLUTION
=======

Step 1: Set Protected Storage to Automatic and verify the Status is Started.  
1. Click Start.  
2. Choose Run.  
3. In the Run box, type services.msc.  
4. Click OK.  
5. Find the Protected Storage service, and right-click to select it.  
6. Select Properties.  
7. In the Startup Type list, select Automatic. (THIS WAS MY EXISTING SETTING)
8. Verify the service Status is Started. (IT WAS STARTED)
9. Click OK.

Step 2: Delete the files in Safe Mode  
1. Restart the computer.  
2. Keep pressing the F8 key until the Windows Startup menu appears.  
3. Choose Safe Mode, and press Enter.  
4. Start your computer in Safe mode. (THEN DURING START UP SELECTED Microsoft  XP Proffesional)
5. Double-click My Computer, and then click Folder Options on the Tools menu.  
(THERE WAS NO "My Computer" on the desktop - used Start -> My Computer)
6. On the View tab, click to select Show hidden files and folders, and then  click OK.  
7. Delete all of the files in the "C:\Documents and Settings\All  Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\S-1-5-18" folder.
(THERE WAS ONLY ONE FILE)
8. Restart your computer, and then run the task scheduler.
(Could now bring up properties of scheduled tasks without the error message.  The user information was displayed. However trying to run the task generated  the following in the log:

"backup_usr_incr.job" (backup_usr_incr.bat) 21/02/2005 09:37:02 ** ERROR **
      The attempt to retrieve account information for the specified task failed;  therefore, the task did not run. Either an error occurred, or no account  information existed for the task.
      The specific error is:
      0x8004130f: No account information could be found in the Task Scheduler  security database for the task indicated.
9. Re-enter the password for the user running each job.
  ( "right click" -> run now executes the job. And they now also run as scheduled )

The above solution was thanks to a Microsoft Support Engineer. I have suggested that they update their Knowledge Base with this solution for XP.

Hey, LeeTutor actually answer this question.

Here is what fixed it for me.

Stop the Task Scheduler Service
Delete or Move the file from the"C:\Documents and Settings\All  Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\S-1-5-18" folder.
Start the Task Scheduler Service.
Edit each previously scheduled task and provide credentials.

I did the same as firemanf29 but from the Normal Desktop.
As the tasks were not running I did not need to stop them!!

Delete folder the"C:\Documents and Settings\All  Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\S-1-5-18"
Edit each previously scheduled task and provide credentials.
Run the Task

Thanks to robot3367 for guidance too.