Error message: Users cannot log on to a workstation (160783)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft LAN Manager 2.2c
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Network Client for MS-DOS 3.0
This article was previously published under Q160783
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

You receive the following error message when you use a non-Administrative account on a workstation to log on to a domain.

Windows NT-based client computer

Your account is configured to prevent you from logging on and using this workstation. Please try another workstation.

Other Windows-based client computers

The user is not allowed to log on from this workstation.
Depending on the client, the associated network message number 2240 may also be included with the error message.

Windows 2000-based clients may also receive the following error message during an attempt to map a drive letter to the server:
Unable to impersonate using a named pipe until data has been read from that pipe.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the security event log is full, and CrashOnAuditFail is enabled. CrashOnAuditFail may be enabled on a Windows NT 4.0 computer if the C2 Configuration Manager (C2Config.exe) has been run on the computer. When the security log size reaches capacity, only administrators can access the server.

This issue may also occur if the user account is configured to log on from specific workstations.

Note The Logon To option is in the User Properties dialog box.


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 resolve this issue, clear the security log and run C2CONFIG to reset the CrashOnAuditFail value. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Restart the computer and log on using an account in the Administrators group.
  2. Use Event Viewer to clear all events from the security log, archiving the currently logged events. For details, see the "Event Viewer" chapter in the Windows NT Workstation or Windows NT Server System Guide.
  3. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
  4. Locate and then delete the CrashOnAuditFail registry entry from the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
  5. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer to cause the change to take effect.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the CrashOnAuditFail registry entry, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

149393 CrashOnAuditFail activates on shutdown with ProcessTracking

178208 CrashOnAuditFail with Logon/Logoff Auditing causes blue screen

140058 How to prevent auditable activities when security log is full

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in Windows NT version 3.5x and Windows NT version 4.0. Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/14/2004
Keywords:kbbug kberrmsg KB160783 kbAudDeveloper
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.