Synchronizing DNS Information in Registry with Boot Files (129047)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q129047


IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

Windows NT 4.0 imports Domain Name Service (DNS) information from boot files into the registry when data is modified using DNS Manager. However, after it is there, the information is maintained and updated only in the registry. If data is changed using DNS Manager, the information is not written back to the original boot file.

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, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack




Microsoft has designed a hotfix for the DNS service that causes it to automatically write back to boot files any changes in the registry that affect information stored in boot files (such as new zones, change files, change zone types, change master, change forwarders, and so on).

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


If you want to enable Windows NT to store and track DNS information in boot files, apply the above hotfix and use Registry Editor to delete the value EnableRegistryBoot from following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DNS\Parameters

You can now replace your desired boot file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns folder. During startup, the DNS service now reads from the boot file first, overriding any settings in the registry. After the boot file has been processed, secondary information not found in the boot file is loaded from the registry (secondary security, notify lists, forwarding timeouts, listen IP list, and so on).
WARNING: Initially, when you configure Windows NT to read and write DNS settings to the boot files, any changes made in the registry through DNS Manager that are not present in the boot files are lost. After making the above registry change, all new changes made through DNS Manager are written to the boot files.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is 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.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/23/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbQFE KB129047