Repeated Automatic Logons in Windows NT May Fail

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

SYMPTOMS

Windows NT has an auto-logon feature that allows an administrator to enter a user name and password in the Registry. After a very large number of repeated logon and logoff attempts, a logon attempt may eventually fail. Attempting to change the password for this user at this time may also fail.

CAUSE

When a user logs on to Windows NT, Windows NT takes the unencrypted password that the administrator set in the Registry for the auto-logon and uses it to log the specified user onto the workstation. A problem has been found when a large number of successive logon attempts occurs.

For additional information on the Windows NT auto-logon feature, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q97597
   TITLE     : How to Enable Automatic Logon in Windows NT

WORKAROUND

To resolve this problem on Windows NT 3.51 Workstation or Server, install Service Pack 5 or later, or upgrade to Windows NT Workstation and Server version 4.0.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.5 and 3.51. This problem was corrected in the latest Windows NT 3.51 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K