Long Computer Names Truncated in Server Manager (238667)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q238667
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

When you start Server Manager, you may notice that all 15 characters of a computer's name are not displayed and that the computer names are truncated.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the default system font is proportionally spaced. When you use combinations of large individual characters for a computer name, some of the characters at the end of the name become truncated.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, change the font to a non-proportionally spaced font. This change is made is on a per-user basis. Also, this font change only affects Server Manager. To change the font:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Go to the following location in the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current version\Network\Server manager

    NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

  3. Select the value = FontFaceName, and on the Edit menu, click String, and then type fixedsys (or you can use any other non-proportionally spaced font).
  4. Quit Registry Editor.
NOTE: Because this change is written into the user's profile, this change only affects the current user on the current system. If your network uses roaming profiles, this change is downloaded each time a user with administrator privileges logs on. To deploy this change to a group of users or a specific user when roaming profiles are being used, a .REG file can be created and deployed through a logon script. You can also create a custom ADM file for use with system policies or System Management Server.

For additional information about creating custom ADM files, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

225087 Writing Custom ADM Files for System Policy Editor

185589 Guide to windows NT 4.0 Profiles and Policies (Part 4 of 6)

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

Server Manager does not alow the resizing of columns to view the full computer name.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/11/2002
Keywords:kbbug KB238667