PC Ext: Err Msg: A Critical Error Has Occurred...

ID: Q127002

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, versions 3.0a, 3.2, 3.2a

SYMPTOMS

When you run EXTERNAL.EXE, the following error may be displayed and placed in the SESSION.LOG (if logging is enabled):

12-30-94 09:47 A Critical error has occurred M:KEY\xxxxxxxx.KEY

where M: can be any drive letter that a PO is mapped to, and xxxxxxxx.KEY can be any address for an external postoffice.

CAUSE

NOTE: Critical errors may also be due to hardware or network problems. For further information, query on "error code =" and "device =".

Hidden, locked, or corrupt .KEY files may cause the above error. Check the screen or the SESSION.LOG for lines matching the above description. It may be necessary to activate the /LogVerbose (-v) and /LogSession (-l) options to accomplish this.

RESOLUTION

Make sure the specified files are not locked, hidden, or corrupt. If the file is corrupt, either restore the file from backup or reset the <hex- id>.KEY and <hex-id>.MBG files. This can be done with one of the following procedures:

Procedure 1

To RESET the <hex-id>.KEY to 560 bytes, type:
DEBUG <hex-id>.KEY <Enter>
At the "-" type F100,32F,0 <Enter>
At the "-" type RCX <Enter>
The following will then be displayed:
   CX 1230
   : 
At the ":" type 230 <Enter> (this resets the file to 560 bytes)
At the "-" type W <Enter> (you should see the message "Writing 00230 bytes")
At the "-" type Q <Enter> (to quit DEBUG)

The filesize should be 560 bytes.

To RESET the <hex-id>.MBG to 0 bytes, type:
TYPE NUL > <hex-id>.MBG

The correct filesize should be 0 bytes.

Procedure 2

Run Admin, Local-Admin, Create to create a test user.

Run LISTUSER.EXE with the -f option against the PO to determine the hex-id of the test user.

Copy the test user's <hex-id>.KEY and <hex-id>.MBG to the corrupt <hex-id>.KEY and <hex-id>.MBG.

Run Admin, Local-Admin, Delete to delete the test user.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q117427 MS-DOS External 3.2 and RebootOnCE

Q116434 EXTERNAL.INI Equivalents to -Qx Command-Line Options

Additional query words: 3.00a 3.20 3.20a external critical error key

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:3.0a,3.2,3.2a
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :