Too Many Printers Can Cause Unsuccessful Boot

ID: Q244135

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you start your Windows NT-based computer, you may receive the following error message:

Windows NT could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\%SystemRoot%\System32\Config\SystemHardware Profile/Last Known Good menu

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if there are too many printers installed. Based on the number and types of drivers involved, the problem may start at around 900 printers. This issue can occur for local printers as well as for network printers, or for a combination of both that exceeds around 900 printers.

Before installing the fix mentioned in the "Resolution" section, the information for local printers is saved to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers

and the information for network printers is saved to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanManPrintServices

Because of this, the System subkey of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive in the registry may become too large to fit into the allocated memory space and may preventing the system from booting.

RESOLUTION

Windows NT 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:


   Date      Time                 Size    File name     Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   10/15/99  04:43p               145,168 Localspl.dll  Intel
   10/15/99  04:33p                80,144 Win32spl.dll  Intel
   09/23/99  01:15a               244,496 Localspl.dll  Alpha
   09/23/99  01:15a               136,464 Win32spl.dll  Alpha

Windows NT 4.0 Server and Workstation

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

The English-language version of this fix comes in two parts; there is one fix for the local printers issue and another fix for the network printers issue. The local printers issue is described in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q239907 Too Many Local Printers Can Cause Unsuccessful Boot

The fix for the network printers issue should have the following file attributes or later:


   Date      Time    Version      Size    File name     Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   10/27/99  07:38p                80,144 Win32spl.dll  Intel
   10/27/99  07:37p               135,952 Win32spl.dll  Alpha

WORKAROUND

For possible workarounds, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q102721 Err Msg: Windows NT Could Not Start Because the Following...

STATUS

Windows NT 4.0

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0.

Windows NT 3.51

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 3.51.

MORE INFORMATION

This fix moves the local printer keys from

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers

to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers

It moves the network printer keys from

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanManPrintServices

to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers\Providers\LanManPrintServices

The printer information in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers

may not be evident until you open the printer properties for a connection, add a printer, or reboot.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00
Version : winnt:3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug