Windows NT 4.0 Roaming Profiles May Not Be Saved to the Server (325086)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition SP4
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP2
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP3
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP4
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6a
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP2
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP3
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6a
This article was previously published under Q325086

SYMPTOMS

Under Windows NT 4.0, if you make a connection to a network printer, your roaming profile may not be saved back to the server when you log off. This problem typically occurs when common desktop settings (such as icons) are also used. When this problem occurs, you are prompted during a later logon attempt with a message that indicates that the local profile is newer than the roaming profile.

CAUSE

Print Job Monitor keeps a handle to Shell32.dll open, which in turn keeps a handle to HKEY_CURRENT_USER open. This registry handle is not released until Csrss.exe exits during the logoff process. This can cause a problem because the handle may be released too late in the logoff cycle, preventing the user's profile from being unloaded.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date        Time   Version        Size   File name
   -----------------------------------------------------
   9-Jul-2002  11:35  4.0.1381.7177  96528  Winspool.drv

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about a similar issue that is related to the Telephony service, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

241572 Roaming Profile May Not Be Saved to the Server

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/18/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbQFE kbWinNT400nospFix KB325086
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