Microsoft KB Archive/239907

= Too Many Printers Can Cause Unsuccessful Boot =

PSS ID Number: 239907

Article Last Modified on 10/16/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0

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This article was previously published under Q239907



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
When you reboot your computer, you may receive the following error message:

Windows NT could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\%SystemRoot%\System32\Config\System\Hardware Profile/Last Known Good menu



CAUSE
This behavior can occur if there are too many printers installed. Based on the number and types of drivers involved, the problem may start at around 900 printers. This issue can occur for local printers as well as for network printers, or for a combination of both that exceeds around 900 printers.

Before you install the fix mentioned in the "Resolution" section, the information for local printers is saved to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers

The information for network printers is saved to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanManPrintServices

Because of this, the System subkey of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive in the registry may become too large to fit into the allocated memory space and may prevent the system from booting.

For a detailed description of the underlying problem, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

102721 Err Msg: Windows NT Could Not Start Because the Following...



Windows NT 4.0
A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

NOTE: This hotfix requires you to be running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5 to be installed.

The English-language version of this fix comes in two parts.

The fix for the local printers issue is included in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6 and should have the following file attributes or later:   Date      Time     File Name       Platform ---  03/31/99  08:11p   Localspl.dll    Intel 03/31/99 08:09p   Localspl.dll    Alpha The fix for the network printers issue should have the following file attributes or later:   Date      Time     Size    File name     Platform -  10/27/99  07:38p   80,144  Win32spl.dll  Intel 10/27/99 07:37p  135,952  Win32spl.dll  Alpha

NOTE: To activate this fix, you must add the following registry value:

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print

Value Name: UseSoftwareKey

Type: DWORD

Value: 1

If you use this fix, you need to make this setting before you upgrade to Service Pack 6. If you uninstall Service Pack 6, make sure that you are still running the fix listed above.

Windows NT 3.51
A hotfix is not available for Windows NT 3.51.

Windows NT 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
There is a separate hotfix that addresses this issue for Terminal Server. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

244135 Too Many Printers Can Cause Unsuccessful Boot



WORKAROUND
For workarounds for this problem, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

102721 Err Msg: Windows NT Could Not Start Because the Following...



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Keywords: kbbug kbenv kbprint kbQFE KB239907

Technology: kbWinNT351search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNTWsearch

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