Windows may not respond when you try to load a registry hive (836435)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you try to load a registry hive or try to log on to your computer, the computer may appear to stop responding.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because a security descriptor in the registry is corrupted. If you are the only user who cannot load a hive on the computer or log on to the computer, your user profile may be corrupted.

RESOLUTION

To prevent this problem, apply the following hotfix. Even after you apply the hotfix, the registry hive may not load because it is corrupted. To fully resolve the problem, you may have to delete the corrupted registry hive.

Important Make sure that you back up your system before you remove a registry hive.

Hotfix information

Microsoft Windows Server 2003

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, 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: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.PrerequisitesNo prerequisites are required.Restart requirementYou must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.Hotfix replacement informationThis hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.File information The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) 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.
Windows Server 2003

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   21-Jul-2004  16:17  5.2.3790.196    2,407,424  Ntkrnlmp.exe
   21-Jul-2004  15:50  5.2.3790.196    2,064,896  Ntkrnlpa.exe     
   21-Jul-2004  15:50  5.2.3790.196    2,108,928  Ntkrpamp.exe
   21-Jul-2004  16:05  5.2.3790.196    2,207,744  Ntoskrnl.exe     

Microsoft Windows XP

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, 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: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.PrerequisitesWindows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) is required.Restart requirementYou must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.Hotfix replacement informationThis hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.File information The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) 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. Windows XP SP2
  
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   10-Sep-2004  17:25  5.1.2600.2514   2,134,528  Ntkrnlmp.exe     
   10-Sep-2004  17:07  5.1.2600.2514   2,056,704  Ntkrnlpa.exe     
   10-Sep-2004  17:07  5.1.2600.2514   2,015,232  Ntkrpamp.exe     
   10-Sep-2004  17:19  5.1.2600.2514   2,178,944  Ntoskrnl.exe     

Windows XP SP1
  
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   19-Jul-2004  05:02  5.1.2600.1578   1,899,008  Ntkrnlmp.exe     
   19-Jul-2004  05:02  5.1.2600.1578   1,954,944  Ntkrnlpa.exe     
   19-Jul-2004  05:02  5.1.2600.1578   1,926,656  Ntkrpamp.exe     
   20-Jul-2004  01:40  5.1.2600.1578   2,051,712  Ntoskrnl.exe     


WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, disable the registry repair and recovery feature as documented in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 815011.

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

815011 Cannot disable the registry repair and recovery feature in Windows XP Service Pack 1

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

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

816915 New file naming schema for Microsoft Windows software update packages

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


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/3/2006
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbBug kbfix kbQFE KB836435