Microsoft KB Archive/842632

= &quot;An invalid directory pathname was passed&quot; error message when you use Active Directory Users and Computers to view user properties in Windows Server 2003 =

Article ID: 842632

Article Last Modified on 7/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition

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SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Windows Server 2003, you can use the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in to view the properties of a user. However, when you click the Members tab in the Properties dialog box for a particular user, you receive an error message that is similar to the following:

An invalid directory pathname was passed.



CAUSE
This problem may occur if the all the following conditions are true:  The user is a member of a group that has a forward slash character (/) in the group name. You install the hotfix that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article:

833883 You cannot view a user's Universal Group membership in Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Users and Computers when Universal Groups do not reside in the local domain

 You edit the AlwaysShowExternalGroups subkey as directed in KB article 833883.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. Date       Time    Version     Size      File name 10-Jun-2004 17:09  5.2.3790.182    760,320   Adprop.dll



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional query words: ADUC

Keywords: kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbbug kbfix kbwinserv2003presp1fix KB842632

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