Microsoft KB Archive/229012

= Disconnected WinStation Sessions that Generate a "Hard Error" Dialog Boxes Cannot be Reset =

Article ID: 229012

Article Last Modified on 2/22/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4

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This article was previously published under Q229012



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 go into a "down" state and cannot be reset.



CAUSE
If a disconnected session has an active "Hard Error" dialog box that is generated by a DOS or 16-bit program, it cannot be reset. If a reset is attempted on the workstation, it stays in a "down" state until the computer is restarted.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, you can disable dialog boxes from ever being displayed. This is done with a registry setting. For additional information, see the following article or articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

124873 Disabling System Hard Error Message Dialog Boxes

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:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows\ErrorMode

  Change the default value of 0 to 2. The following table defines the three possible values for ErrorMode:   Value   Result -       0     Errors are serialized and wait for a response. 1    If the error does not come from the system, then the system continues in normal operating mode. If the error comes from the system, then it is written to the system log; no user intervention is required and dialog boxes are not displayed. 2    The error is written to the system log; the dialog box is not displayed. 



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5.

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbbug kbfix kbwinnt400sp5fix KB229012

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