SMS: NetBIOS Reset Causes Windows 95 Remote Control To Fail

• Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

After establishing a remote control session with a Windows 95 client using NetBT (NetBIOS encapsulated in TCP/IP), the remote control session may terminate unexpectedly when an application is opened or closed.

After the remote control session terminates, the Windows 95 client may lock up and receive a general protection (GP) fault. If the client stops responding (locks up), it may be necessary to turn off the system to restore functionality.

Applications known to cause this problem:

• Microsoft Exchange Client version 4.0
• Microsoft ActiveMovie 3.0 (add-on for Microsoft Internet Explorer)
• Other custom applications that display embedded AVI animation as a normal part of the application's execution

CAUSE

This problem is caused by an abnormal reset of the NetBIOS session by the NetBIOS interface on the Windows 95 client.

WORKAROUND

To avoid the problem, you can perform remote control over IP sockets instead of NetBT. This will allow the remote control session to function normally.

To test IP sockets with a single Windows 95 client, do the following:

1. Ensure that the Remote Control Agent is not running.

2. Open the Sms.ini file located in the root of drive C.

3. Change the Default Protocol statement located in the [Sight] section from "NetBIOS" to "IP".

4. Save the Sms.ini file and start the Remote Control Agent.

NOTE: If the client in the preceding section runs the Systems Management Server logon script (Smsls.bat) or the Runsms.bat file, the setting in the Sms.ini file will revert to NetBIOS.

To make all clients in this domain use IP sockets (except for Windows NT, they do this by default), you must make a registry change at the site server.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

To make the registry change, use the following steps:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

2. Go to the following key in the registry:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS\Sites\<Sitecode>
         \Domains\<Domain>
   

3. Set the "Default RC Protocol" (REG_SZ) value to "IP".

   This forces all Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, and Windows 95 clients that appear in this domain, to use IP sockets as the default remote control protocol.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 1.2. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.