The "RestrictAnonymous" Registry Value May Break the Trust to a Windows 2000 Domain (296405)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q296405
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

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

With User Manager, when you attempt to add users or global groups from a trusted Windows 2000 domain (on a Windows NT 4.0 domain controller) to a local group in the Windows NT 4.0 domain, you may receive the following error message:
Unable to browse the selected domain because the following error occurred:

There are currently no logon servers available to service the logon request.
Also, you may observe in User Manager that existing users and groups from the Windows 2000 domain, which are members of domain local groups, are displayed as "Account Unknown."

CAUSE

This behavior can occur because the RestrictAnonymous registry value is set to Level 2 on the Windows 2000 domain controller on which the Windows NT 4.0-based computer has its secure channel.

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 behavior:
  1. Set the RestrictAnonymous registry value to 0 or 1 on the Windows 2000 domain controller. This registry value can be found at:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa

    Value: RestrictAnonymous
    Value Type: REG_DWORD
    Value Data: 0x1 or 0x0(Hex)
  2. Restart the domain controller.
  3. Break, and then reestablish the trust.

MORE INFORMATION

The RestrictAnonymous registry value with a Level 2 setting must only be used in "pure" Windows 2000 environments.

For additional information about the RestrictAnonymous registry value in Windows 2000, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

246261 How to Use the RestrictAnonymous Registry Value in Windows 2000

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/11/2002
Keywords:kbenv kbnetwork kbprb KB296405
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.