Windows NT 4.0 Clients Take Multiple Terminal Services CALs (291936)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q291936
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 connect your computer that is running Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition to a Windows 2000 Terminal Server may be issued a Terminal Services Client Access License (TS CAL) token for each user of the computer.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if the Users group does not have Full Control on the client computer to the following registry key and all of its subkeys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\MSLicensing

RESOLUTION

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.

To prevent this problem from occurring, grant the Users group Full Control to the MSLicensing registry key and all of its subkeys. To do so, start Regedt32.exe on the Windows NT 4.0 client computer. Grant the Users group Full Control to the following MSLicensing registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\MSLicensing

When you grant the Users group Full Control to this registry key, make sure to click to select the Replace Permissions on Existing Subkeys check box and click Yes when you are prompted to verify the permission replacement.

NOTE: The End User License Agreement (EULA) states that each Windows NT 4.0-based computer that connects to a Windows 2000-based computer by using the Terminal Services software requires a TS CAL token. However, a client only needs a single TS CAL token to obtain access to all Terminal Servers in its domain. To reclaim additional licenses that were incorrectly assigned to Windows NT 4.0-based computers, contact the Microsoft Clearinghouse.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/28/2004
Keywords:kbbug kbnetwork KB291936