Microsoft KB Archive/155579

= Shell Does Not Start After Logon =

Article ID: 155579

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q155579



SYMPTOMS
After a clean installation of Windows NT, you may be able to log on, but the shell may not start.

NOTE: Typically it will be a user, not the administrator, who sees this behavior.



CAUSE
Security was inherited from the root, which does not allow a user access to %systemroot% because security has not been set on %systemroot%.



RESOLUTION
Using File Manager's or Windows NT Explorer's security dialogue box, set security on the %systemroot% directory such that "Everyone" has RX permissions, and clear the "Replace Permissions on Existing Files" check box. Also, clear the "Replace permissions on Subdirectories" check box.

Alternately, "Everyone" can be replaced with the users you want to be able to log on.

If the shell does not start for any account, you must use one of the following methods:
 * Reformat the drive and reinstall.
 * Boot from another installation of Windows NT that does not exhibit this behavior and change the security on the volume as indicated for %systemroot%.
 * Install onto another volume that does not have such security.

It will not be possible to perform a clean (fresh or non-upgrading) install again on the volume and avoid this problem unless security on the volume is changed as well.



MORE INFORMATION
This problem does not occur after an upgrade from a previous version or if the volume installed upon is formatted during the install process.

Typically, this problem is seen when the permissions on the volume on which the system was installed grant access to Administrators and System, but "Everyone" has been removed.

Additional query words: prodnt winnt

Keywords: kbenv kbsetup KB155579

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.