Several pointers from MVPs, newgroup postings, and Microsoft:
The following is from
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293513. You may
need to install the High Encryption Pack from either your Windows 2000 CD or
from this site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/recommended/encryption/
I hope one of these helps.
High Encryption Support
If you are running Internet Explorer 5.01 or earlier on a computer that is
running Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows NT 4.0, when you
install Internet Explorer 6, you upgrade your computer to 128-bit
encryption. If your computer is running Windows 2000, when you install
Internet Explorer 6, you do not change the current level of encryption on
your computer. You can upgrade Windows 2000 by using the High Encryption
Pack that is located on the original installation media and on the Microsoft
Windows Update Web site. If your computer is running Windows Me, your
computer is already using 128-bit encryption.
Encryption Pack Installation May Not Work If User GUID Is Too Long
After you install the Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack and it appears to
succeed, any program that relies on 128-bit security (such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer) may still report 56-bit security in use rather than
128-bit after you reboot the computer.
More from H Leboeuf:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=253540 (W2000 Oct. 16, 2002)
Problems with 128-Bit Encryption Pack After Uninstalling Service Pack 1
If you uninstall Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1) from a computer that has
Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack (128-bit) installed, the encryption may be
reduced to 56-bit.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=269675 (W2000 Oct. 11, 2002)
The following page, from the MVPs.org web site
http://ww.mvps.org, has
several links to possible solutions on cypher and encryption problems. The
section you want is about 1/3 down the page, or you can ctrl-f and search
for encryption.
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/answers2.htm
Microsoft Strong Encryption Downloads
On January 14, 2000, the United States government eliminated remaining
export controls for most computer hardware and software products that
incorporate 'strong encryption' (defined as products that implemented
symmetric key encryption with key lengths over 64 bits). Microsoft had long
advocated those changes to the U.S. regulations, and Microsoft Windows 2000
was the first platform to be shipped internationally under the new
regulations with 128-bit+ encryption. For information on U.S. export
regulations visit the U.S. Commerce Department.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/issues/crypload.asp