DOCUMENT:Q163737 09-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :"( sequence causes DNS ERROR: 204 Unexpected Token "IN" PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:WinNT:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== While importing Domain Name Service (DNS) zone files from BIND or Non- Microsoft DNS servers, the following error may appear in event viewer: Event ID: 204 DNS Server could not parse unexpected token "IN" in database file ( ) , Line 'x'. CAUSE ===== This is caused by a " followed by a ( in the zone file being parsed. For example: acc IN A 128.222.10.187 IN MX 5 acc.lex.dp.com. IN MX 10 dp-lex.dp.com. IN MX 20 dp-web.web.dp.com. IN HINFO "(NONE) IP ADDRESS" "CLUSTER" In the example above, the last record (that begins with "IN HINFO") the "(NONE) entry will prevent the zone file from being imported and the above message will be logged in the event viewer. RESOLUTION ========== Manually edit the Zone file and remove all "( character combinations manually or install DNS.exe from Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 (SP3) or higher. This issue has been resolved in post-Service Pack 2 versions of DNS.exe Additional query words: nt4sp3fix dnsmgr ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : WinNT:4.0 Issue type : kbbug ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.