Error Messages Adding .adm File with Long Path in System Policy Editor

ID: Q227864

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SYMPTOMS

When you are using System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe), attempting to add an .adm file with a path length longer than 256 characters results in the following error message and event ID:

Dr. Watson For Windows 2000

An application error has occurred and an application error log is being generated.

POLEDIT.EXE Exception access violation (0xc0000005), Address: 0xXXXXXXX

The application event log records the following information:

Event ID: 4097
Source: DrWatson

The application, exe\poledit.dbg, generated an application error. The error occurred on date @ time. The exception generated was c0000005 at address 0xXXXXXXX.

CAUSE

Poledit.exe uses a global variable named MAX_PATH. Poledit.exe is limited to a 256-character string because of the MAX_PATH variable. When the path is longer than 256 characters, the MAX_PATH value exceeds its limit and overruns its memory allocation, causing the error message.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, reduce the length of the path to less than 256 characters.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: spe

Keywords : kberrmsg kbtool
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb