Description for event id from source cannot be found

I got this error after creating an event source under the Application Log from the command line using "EventCreate". This command creates a new key under:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Eventlog\Application

If you look at the Key that's been created (e.g. SourceTest) there will be a string value calledEventMessageFile, which for me was set to %SystemRoot%\System32\EventCreate.exe.

Change this to c:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\EventLogMessages.dll

Delete theCustomSource and TypesSupported values.

This should stop the "The description for Event ID...." message.

How about a real world solution.

If all you need is a "quick and dirty" way to write something to the event log without registering "custom sources" (requires admin rights), or providing "message files" (requires work and headache) just do this:

EventLog.WriteEntry(    ".NET Runtime", //magic    "Your error message goes here!!",    EventLogEntryType.Warning,    1000); //magic

This way you'll be writing to an existing "Application" log without the annoying "The description for Event ID 0 cannot be found"

If you want the "magic" part explained I blogged about it here

Restart your system!

A friend of mine had exactly the same problem. He tried all the described options but nothing seemed to work. After many studies, also of Microsoft's description, he concluded to restart the system and it worked!!

It seems that the operating system does not in all cases refresh the list of registered event sources. Only after a restart you can be sure the event sources are registered properly.