Error: "Creation of this signature could not be completed. Platform Exception" when you sign a PDF (Acrobat 8, 9 on Windows)

Issue

When you try to digitally sign a PDF in Adobe Acrobat 8 or 9 on Windows, the application returns the error message "Creation of this signature could not be completed. Platform Exception." The error message is followed by one of these expressions:

  • "Object already exists. Error Code: 2148073487"
  • "Keyset does not exist. Error Code: 2148073494"
  • "Key not valid for use in specified state. Error code: 2148073483"

Solution: Re-create the digital ID and/or Crypto folder

Do one or both of the following solutions:

Re-create the digital ID

  1. Open Acrobat.
  2. Choose Advanced > Security Settings.
  3. In the list of categories on the left side of the Security Settings window, choose Digital IDs.

  4. Select the digital ID with which you were trying to sign the PDF.
  5. Click Remove ID.
  6. In the confirmation dialog box, click OK.
  7. Click Add ID.
  8. Follow the onscreen instructions to re-create the digital ID.

  9. Click OK.

Re-create the Crypto folder

  1. Close Acrobat.
  2. In Windows Explorer, do one of the following:

    • On Windows XP, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\[your user name]\Application Data\Microsoft.
    • On Windows Vista, navigate to C:\Users\[your user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft.

    Note: These paths include hidden folders. To make hidden folders visible, see Show hidden files and folders in Windows 10 and earlier.

  3. Rename the Crypto folder Crypto Old.

  4. Open Acrobat. The Crypto folder is re-created automatically.

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