Windows Sync Manager shows error message "Microsoft SQL Server could not save the security changes" when specifying user/password for publisher/distributor
Symptoms
In pull subscriptions, when you use Windows Synchronization Manager to synchronize, it will ask for security information to connect to publisher and distributor. As soon as you click ON on the dialog box, it would show error message
Microsoft SQL Server could not save the security changes
Cause
Current logged on user does not have adequate permissions over registry entries
Resolution
Collect Process Monitor Logs and you will see ACCESS DENIED for couple of registry keys including the ones belonging to SQL Server. In a specific scenario they were
| Operation | Path | Result | Detail |
| RegCreateKey | HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\Replication\Subscriptions\<Subscription> | ACCESS DENIED | Desired Access: Write |
| RegCreateKey | HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\Replication\Subscription\<Subscription> | ACCESS DENIED | Desired Access: Write |
| RegCreateKey | HKLM\SOFTWARE\Description | ACCESS DENIED | Desired Access: Maximum Allowed |
| RegOpenKey | HKLM\Software\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\Client\SNI10.0 | ACCESS DENIED | Desired Access: Write |
| RegOpenKey | HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters | ACCESS DENIED | Desired Access: All Access |
| RegOpenKey | HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters | ACCESS DENIED | Desired Access: All Access |
Ensure that the current logged on account has adequate permissions over these registry keys (or whichever they turn out to be in ProcMon Logs.)