DOCUMENT:Q239907 11-JUN-2002 [winnt] TITLE :Too Many Printers Can Cause Unsuccessful Boot PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:3.51,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbenv kbprint ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry SYMPTOMS ======== When you reboot your computer, you may receive the following error message: Windows NT could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \%SystemRoot%\System32\Config\System\Hardware Profile/Last Known Good menu CAUSE ===== This behavior can occur if there are too many printers installed. Based on the number and types of drivers involved, the problem may start at around 900 printers. This issue can occur for local printers as well as for network printers, or for a combination of both that exceeds around 900 printers. Before you install the fix mentioned in the "Resolution" section, the information for local printers is saved to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers The information for network printers is saved to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanManPrintServices Because of this, the System subkey of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive in the registry may become too large to fit into the allocated memory space and may prevent the system from booting. For a detailed description of the underlying problem, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q102721 Err Msg: Windows NT Could Not Start Because the Following... RESOLUTION ========== Windows NT 4.0 -------------- A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing at a later time, to further ensure product quality. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT service pack that contains this fix. To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. NOTE: This hotfix requires you to be running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5 to be installed. The English-language version of this fix comes in two parts. The fix for the local printers issue is included in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6 and should have the following file attributes or later: Date Time File Name Platform ------------------------------------------- 03/31/99 08:11p Localspl.dll Intel 03/31/99 08:09p Localspl.dll Alpha The fix for the network printers issue should have the following file attributes or later: Date Time Size File name Platform ------------------------------------------------- 10/27/99 07:38p 80,144 Win32spl.dll Intel 10/27/99 07:37p 135,952 Win32spl.dll Alpha NOTE: To activate this fix, you must add the following registry value: Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print Value Name: UseSoftwareKey Type: DWORD Value: 1 If you use this fix, you need to make this setting before you upgrade to Service Pack 6. If you uninstall Service Pack 6, make sure that you are still running the fix listed above. Windows NT 3.51 --------------- A hotfix is not available for Windows NT 3.51. Windows NT 4.0, Terminal Server Edition --------------------------------------- There is a separate hotfix that addresses this issue for Terminal Server. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q244135 Too Many Printers Can Cause Unsuccessful Boot WORKAROUND ========== For workarounds for this problem, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q102721 Err Msg: Windows NT Could Not Start Because the Following... STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbenv kbprint Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search Version : winnt:3.51,4.0 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= 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. 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