Addusers.Exe Allows Group Names Greater Than 21 Characters

The information in this article applies to:

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

SYMPTOMS

The following error message appears when you try to delete groups:

   The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

CAUSE

Addusers.exe allows the entry of group names longer than the 21 character limit.

RESOLUTION

The only workaround is to use the emergency repair disk (ERD) and replace the security accounts manager (SAM). Otherwise, you must do a complete reinstall in order to get a new SAM. In either case, the user accounts in the domain must be re-created.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51 and Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.