Error 161 occurs when you use the runas command in a Terminal Services session (832821)

SYMPTOMS

When you use the runas command from a Terminal Services session to create a process, such as the Cmd.exe process, and then try to access Service Control Manager, you receive an error message that is similar to the following:

C:\WINNT\system32>net start
System error 161 has occurred.
The specified path is invalid.

If you create named kernel objects by using functions such as CreateEvent or CreateMutex the same error message may occur. The error happens regardless of whether you use the "Global\" prefix or not. (Any non-NULL name fails.)

RESOLUTION

Hotfix Information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart Requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix Replacement Information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File Information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version           Size     File name
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   05-Nov-2003  00:22  5.0.2195.6862     381,712  Advapi32.dll
   17-Nov-2003  20:55  5.0.2195.6862      18,192  Seclogon.dll

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how hotfix packages are named, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

816915 New file naming schema for Microsoft Windows software update packages

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

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

294676 How to enable and use the "run as" command when running programs in Windows