XCON: Error 2140 and Event IDs 2152, 2127, 2187, 2155 and 2219, MTA Service Does Not Start (324026)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
This article was previously published under Q324026
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

If you try to start the Microsoft Exchange Message Transfer Agent (MTA) service, you may receive the following error message:
Could not start the Microsoft Exchange Message Transfer Agent service on \\ServerName. Error 2140: An internal Windows NT error occurred.
If you try to run the MTA Database Integrity Checker Utility (Mtacheck.exe), you may receive the following error message:
Database contains serious errors and cannot be automatically repaired.
Additionally, you may see the following events in the Application event log of Windows NT Event Viewer:
Event ID: 2152:
Event Type: Warning
Event Source: MSExchangeMTA
Event Category: Operating System
Description:

MSExchangeMTA - A fatal database error occurred, the database recovery operation was not successful and manual correction will be required. Details can be found in the file: drive :\Exchsrvr\Mtadata\.\MTACHECK.OUT\MTACHECK.LOG. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services. [DB Server MAIN BASE 1 14] (16)
Event ID:2127
Event Type: Warning
Event Source: MSExchangeMTA
Event Category: Operating System
Description:

An MTA database server error was encountered. Error accessing object attribute (AAT) on a Read/Write operation. Filename: drive:\Exchsrvr\Mtadata\.\DB000068.DAT. File operation: 0. Operating system error: 2127. Referenced object: OPEN (00000000 => N/A). Referenced object error 00000000. [0 DB Server OPERATOR 22] (14)
Event ID:2155
Event Type: Warning
Event Source: MSExchangeMTA
Event Category: Internal Processing
Description:

An MTA database server error was encountered. Failed to read attribute information (AAT) for object 01000068. Database server error code: 2127. [DB Server OPERATOR 22 29] (14)
Event: 2187
Source: MTA
Type: Warning
Cat: Internal Processing

Description: An MTA database server error was encountered while attempting to unlock an object which is not locked. Called from MTA. Procedure 460. Object at fault: 06000174. [DB Server DISP:ROUTER 16 58] (14)
Event ID: 2219
Source: MSExchangeMTA
Category: Field Engineering
Description:

The MTA is running recovery on the internal message database because the MTA was not shut down cleanly. This operation may take some time. Status updates will be written to the Windows NT Event Log. [%1 %2 %3 %4] (14)

CAUSE

This issue may occur if incorrect values exist for the location of the MTA database path in the registry.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, edit the registry to refer to the correct location for the MTA database files. To do so, 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. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. Locate the following registry entry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeMTA\Parameters\MTA Database Path

  4. Double-click the registry entry that you located in step 3, and then type the correct path to the MTA database files in the Value data box. For example, drive:\exchsrvr\mtadata.
  5. Locate the following registry entry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeMTA\Parameters\MTA Run Directory

  6. Double-click the entry that you located in step 5, and then verify that the correct location for the MTA Run Directory is displayed in the Value data box. For example, drive:\exchsrvr\mtadata.
  7. On the Registry menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
NOTE:You can also use Microsoft Exchange Server Performance Optimizer to move the MTA database files. To start Performance Optimizer, click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click Microsoft Exchange Optimizer. If you want to run Performance Optimizer in verbose mode, follow the steps in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

246125 XADM: Exchange Server 5.5 Performance Optimizer Verbose Mode

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the Message Transfer Agent (MTA), click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

282780 XCON: MTA Database Format and Structure

For additional information about the Mtacheck utility, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

163326 XCON: How and Why to Run Mtacheck

148284 XCON: When and How to Use the Mtacheck Utility

175495 Performing An MTACHECK

For additional information about the Microsoft Exchange Server Performance Optimizer, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

266051 XADM: The "Understanding the Microsoft Exchange Server Performance Optimizer White Paper" Is Available

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/21/2003
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB324026
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.