Microsoft KB Archive/142622

= Repeated Automatic Logons in Windows NT May Fail =

PSS ID Number: 142622

Article Last Modified on 12/16/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51

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This article was previously published under Q142622





SYMPTOMS
Windows NT has an auto-logon feature that allows an administrator to enter a user name and password in the Registry. After a very large number of repeated logon and logoff attempts, a logon attempt may eventually fail. Attempting to change the password for this user at this time may also fail.



CAUSE
When a user logs on to Windows NT, Windows NT takes the unencrypted password that the administrator set in the Registry for the auto-logon and uses it to log the specified user onto the workstation. A problem has been found when a large number of successive logon attempts occurs.

For additional information on the Windows NT auto-logon feature, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 97597

TITLE : How to Enable Automatic Logon in Windows NT



WORKAROUND
To resolve this problem on Windows NT 3.51 Workstation or Server, install Service Pack 5 or later, or upgrade to Windows NT Workstation and Server version 4.0.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.5 and 3.51. This problem was corrected in the latest Windows NT 3.51 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords: kbenv KB142622

Technology: kbWinNT350search kbWinNT351search kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS350search kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTWsearch

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