When You Try to Change Settings, Error Message Reports That the Service Database Is Currently Locked (264559)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q264559

SYMPTOMS

When you try to modify adapter or protocol settings under Network in Control Panel, or when you try to change the startup parameters of a service under Service in Control Panel, you may receive the following error message:
The Service Database is Currently Locked

CAUSE

This problem can be caused by a service that has failed to start properly, causing the Service Control Manager to maintain a lock on the service database on behalf of the service.

RESOLUTION

Use the Windows NT 4.0 Diagnostic utility (Winmsd.exe) program to try to identify the service that is having problems starting. Run Winmsd.exe and, in the Services report, look for a service that has the status of "Start Pending". After you locate the particular service that is not starting correctly, edit the registry to manually set that service's startup parameters to "disabled" (provided it is not a critical Windows NT 4.0 service).

If you are unable to identify the particular problem service, you may have to disable all non-essential services one at a time to find out which service is responsible for locking the Service Database.

MORE INFORMATION

To manually disable a service in the registry, follow these steps:

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.

  1. Run the Registry Editor program (Regedt32).
  2. Navigate to the following location in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\service name\Start
  3. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click the registry value Start.
  4. To change the startup type to "disabled", type 0x4 in the Data box and then click OK.
  5. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
  6. In Control Panel, reset the startup parameters of the service.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/11/2002
Keywords:kbprb KB264559
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.