Microsoft KB Archive/194336

= An NTFS Directory May Become Corrupted =

Article ID: 194336

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q194336



SYMPTOMS
An NTFS directory may become corrupted, resulting in an error message appearing that states that a file or directory is corrupted. Note that this is not the only reason a user may see this pop-up message. The pop-up message may contain the following error:

Corrupt File

The file or directory is corrupt and unreadable. Please

run the Chkdsk utility.



CAUSE
NTFS incorrectly calculates the size of an internal structure. This is a very rare behavior and was only found using a very specific scenario that involved creating a large number of files under the context of the SYSTEM account. While the possibility exists to encounter this behavior in a number of ways, it is extremely improbable.



RESOLUTION
To fix the corruption after it has happened, run the CHKDSK utility (Chkdsk.exe). To prevent this behavior from ever happening, install the latest Windows NT 4.0 service pack.

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.

Additional query words: sp4

Keywords: kbbug kbfix KB194336

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