The problem

Today I saw the following entry in my Application Event log:

Event Type:    Error
Event Source:    AutoEnrollment
Event Category:    None
Event ID:    15
Date:        3/12/2007
Time:        5:28:05
User:        N/A
Computer:    GABRIEL
Description:
Automatic certificate enrollment for local system failed to contact the active directory (0x8007054b).  The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted.
  Enrollment will not be performed.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

The solution

Googling around I found the following Knowledge Base article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310461

Run the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

Open the node Local Computer Policy => Computer Configuration => Windows Settings => Security Settings => Public Key Policies.

Double click the Autoenrollment Settings object.

Select the option Do not enroll certificates automatically. Click OK and close the Group Policy Editor.