"User Unknown" Error Message When Using Small Business Server Modem Sharing Client

ID: Q202004

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server versions 4.0, 4.0a
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
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

When using the Modem Sharing client included with Small Business Server (SBS), you may receive one of the following error messages in the Modem Sharing event viewer on a Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98 client

  • 19:10:1998 11:05:00 [User: "<UNKNOWN>", Resource: "Modem Sharing Port (COMx)"] : Open port error 1006 (UserName not found)


  • 19:10:1998 11:05:00 [User: "", Resource: "Modem Sharing Port (COMx)"] : Open port error 1006 (UserName not found)


where x is the number of the COM port that is redirected to the modem pool of the SBS-based computer.

You may also notice that Modem Sharing appears to skip the COM port that is redirected to the server's modem pool when Modem Sharing attempts to detect a modem.


CAUSE

This behavior occurs if the UserName registry value is blank or missing.


RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, use the appropriate method.

Method 1: Disable the Option to Clear the UserName Value Using the TweakUI Tool

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Tweak UI.


  2. On the Paranoia tab, click to clear the Clear Last User at Logon check box, and then click OK.


  3. Restart the computer.


Method 2: Disable the DontShowLastUser Value in the Registry

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. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.


  2. Locate the following registry key:


    3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Network\Logon
  3. Change the DontShowLastUser value to 0.


  4. Quit Registry Editor.


Method 3: Manually Add the UserName Value to the Registry

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.


  2. Locate the following registry key:


    3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Network\Logon
  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click String Value.


  4. Type username for the value name.


  5. Type the name of the user that is currently logged on for the Data value.


  6. Quit Registry Editor.



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0 and 4.0a.

Additional query words: kbDSupport smallbiz

Keywords : kberrmsg win95 win98
Version : WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0,4.0a
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: October 8, 1999
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