Microsoft KB Archive/234606

= Terminal Server User Profiles Do Not Unload Resulting in Loss of Settings =

PSS ID Number: 234606

Article Last Modified on 10/14/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition SP4

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This article was previously published under Q234606



IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



SYMPTOMS
Terminal Server clients often discover that they have lost configuration settings (such as Outlook settings, icons on the desktop, and so forth) when they log on to a computer running Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because the registry key containing the user's SID is not unloaded when the user logs off and is therefore not being updated correctly. A process (Csrss.exe) has a handle to the key open, thereby preventing WINLOGON from unloading the key.



RESOLUTION
A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English language version of this software update should have the following file attributes or later:

  Date       Time     Size       File name      Platform --  06/09/99   04:44p    134,928   Termsrv.exe    x86 06/09/99  04:43p    106,768   Winspool.drv   x86 06/09/99  04:44p    195,344   Winsrv.dll     x86 07/26/99  01:51p    992,448   Ntkrnlmp.exe   x86 07/26/99  01:51p    971,648   Ntoskrnl.exe   x86

06/09/99  04:48p    242,448   Termsrv.exe    Alpha 06/09/99  04:47p    179,984   Winspool.drv   Alpha 06/09/99  04:48p    330,512   Winsrv.dll     Alpha 07/22/99  01:56p  1,461,568   Ntkrnlmp.exe   Alpha 07/22/99  01:56p  1,432,320   Ntoskrnl.exe   Alpha NOTE: This software update affects the Windows NT Kernel. The kernel file has two different versions; single processor and multiprocessor. The installation files are named Ntoskrnl.exe and Ntkrnlmp.exe respectively. However, the file must be named Ntoskrnl.exe before being installed. Therefore, when you install a new kernel on a multiprocessor system, you must rename Ntkrnlmp.exe to Ntoskrnl.exe in the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition.



MORE INFORMATION
The logged-on user's profile is held in the user's SID key under the HKEY_USER registry hive. This registry key is not unloaded when the user logs off. The user profile is not being updated correctly because of this.

The following change can also be made to correct the problem:

When a user logs off, CSRSS (Winsrv.dll) issues a shutdown notification to all the processes running for this user. A change was made such that CSRSS waits 10 seconds for all the processes to close before allowing WINLOGON to unload the User profile from the registry. This wait interval can be configured using the following the new registry key. To modify this interval:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

 Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe). Go to the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control

 On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and add the following registry value:

Value Name: ProcessTerminateTimeout:

Data Type: REG_SZ

Value: milliseconds (Default: 10000, 10 Sec) (Infinite: -1) (None: 0)

 Quit Registry Editor.</li> Restart the server to cause the change to take effect.</li></ol>

Microsoft does not recommend modifying this value, except in very rare circumstances where it may need to be tuned.

Additional query words: tse wts citrix metaframe ica clients

Keywords: kbbug KB234606

Technology: kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServ400sp4 kbNTTermServSearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTSsearch

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