You cannot view a user's Universal Group membership in Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Users and Computers when Universal Groups do not reside in the local domain (833883)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
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 use the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in, and you click the Membership tab on the user's Properties dialog box to view the Universal Group membership for a specific user, only the universal groups that reside in the local domain are shown. If the user also belongs to universal groups that do not reside on the local domain, these universal groups do not appear in the Membership tab of the user's Properties dialog box, even when the non-local domain resides in the same forest and you are connected to a global catalog server in the local domain.

RESOLUTION

Windows Server 2003 32-bit hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, 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.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix 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
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   28-Mar-2004  22:56  5.2.3790.145      759,808  Adprop.dll

Windows Server 2003 64-bit hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, 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.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix 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    Platform
   --------------------------------------------------------------------
   28-Mar-2004  21:52  5.2.3790.145    1,729,024  Adprop.dll   IA-64
   28-Mar-2004  21:56  5.2.3790.145      759,808  Wadprop.dll  x86

MORE INFORMATION

By default, in Windows Server 2003, Active Directory Users and Computers only shows group memberships for the local domain. After you apply this hotfix, Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Users and Computers will connect to a global catalog server. If the local domain controller is not also a global catalog server, Active Directory Users and Computers connects to a different global catalog server in the forest. In this case, the forest-wide universal group membership for the user appears in Active Directory Users and Computers.

Installation instructions

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.
Important You must configure the corresponding registry key before you apply this hotfix.

To apply this hotfix, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. In Registry Editor, verify that the Windows Server 2003-based computer contains the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Directory UI

    If this subkey does not exist, you must create it manually. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Right-click HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft, click New, and then click Key.
    2. Type Windows for the key name.
    3. Right-click Windows, click New, and then click Key.
    4. Type Directory UI for the key name.
    5. Right -click Directory UI, click New, and then click DWORD Value.
    6. Type AlwaysShowExternalGroups as the DWORD name.
    7. Double-click AlwaysShowExternalGroups.
    8. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, type 1, and then click OK.
  3. After you have configured the correct registry subkeys and DWORD value, double-click the WindowsServer2003-KB833883-xxx-ENU.EXE hotfix file, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
  4. Restart the Windows Server 2003 computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

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

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/27/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbBug kbfix kbQFE kbWinServ2003preSP1fix KB833883 kbAudITPRO
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