Corrupted SAM Hangs Windows NT Server

ID: Q190449

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

Occasionally, the security accounts manager (SAM) database may become corrupted. If this happens, the Netlogon service may fail to start and access to the server from both the network and the console is prohibited. The following error message may be displayed:

Unable to log you on because the Netlogon service is not running.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.


MORE INFORMATION

With the addition of the hotfix, if the SAM cannot be loaded on a backup domain controller (BDC) because it is corrupted, the following sequence of events occurs:

  1. The BDC displays a blue screen error message.


  2. The SAM is deleted.


  3. The BDC restarts.


  4. The SAM is re-created with information from the primary domain controller (PDC).


If the SAM is corrupted on the PDC, server, or workstation, a STOP error is raised and the SAM will have to be restored from tape or an emergency repair disk. The STOP error that is encountered is:

STOP: c00000e5 This error indicates that the SAM server has
encountered an internal consistency error in its database. This
catastrophic failure will prevent further operation of SAM.
This message appears on the PDC as a blue screen error message; the PDC then restarts, and this sequence (the error message and the PDC restarting) repeats.

Additional query words: kbDSupport blue screen security accounts manager

Keywords : NT4SP4Fix kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00.sp4
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: September 8, 1999
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