Backing up in-use WINS Database Files Can Cause Corruption

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

The Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) service stops replicating with its partners and the following error is logged in the system log:

   4204 - "An error was encountered in the database. You might need to
           restore the database from a backup."

CAUSE

Backing up in-use WINS database files on a Windows NT 3.5 or 3.51 system that is running the WINS Server service can cause the database files to corrupt.

RESOLUTION

There are two options to resolve this problem:

• If customers wish to protect their WINS databases, use WINSADMN.EXE at the WINS server to enable backups. The WINS database is backed up (by the service) in a consistent state to a subdirectory of the user's choice. A user could then backup the database files from this directory.

  -or-

• Windows NT Backup (NTBACKUP.EXE) will behave this way if Backup Files In Use is enabled. To disable it in NTBACKUP go into the registry under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree under the following subkey:

        \Software\Microsoft\Ntbackup\Backup Engine
  

  Make sure that the following value name is set to the following value:

        Value Name:     Backup files inuse
        Value (REG_SZ): 0
  
  

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.50 and 3.51. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.