When you try to validate credentials using .NET on Windows 10 you may get the rather confusing errror System.IO.FileNotFoundException: The system cannot find the file specified. The full exception trace looks like this System.IO.FileNotFoundException: The system cannot find the file specified. at System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement.UnsafeNativeMethods.IADs.Get(String bstrName) at System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement.CredentialValidator.BindSam(String target, String userName, String password) at System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement.CredentialValidator.Validate(String userName, String password, ContextOptions connectionMethod) at System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement.PrincipalContext.ValidateCredentials(String userName, String password, ContextOptions options) To resolve this make sure that the RegisteredOwner and RegisteredOrganization string values are found here HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion.