Microsoft KB Archive/189061

= Repeated Regsavekey/Regrestorekey Actions Corrupt Registry Hive =

Article ID: 189061

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition

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This article was previously published under Q189061



SYMPTOMS
When you repeatedly save and restore a registry key in Windows NT, the registry hive may eventually become corrupted.



CAUSE
If you save a registry key to disk, and then later restore it over another key where the key name length is different (that is, longer than the original key name), it causes the actual allocated storage for the key to grow. If you repeat this process enough times, eventually the storage assigned to this key becomes so large that the registry check code declares the hive corrupted.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or 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



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.1, 3.5, and 3.51. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: multiple saving saves restores restoring import export reg

Keywords: kbbug kbfix KB189061

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