"The following entry in the [strings] section is too long and has been truncated" error message when you try to modify or to view GPOs in Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional, or Windows 2000 (842933)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you try to modify or to view Group Policy objects (GPOs) on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 (SP1), or Microsoft Windows 2000, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:
The following entry in the [strings] section is too long and has been truncated.
Some text may be displayed after this error message, and this text varies in different scenarios. Additionally, if you click OK in the error message window, a similar error message may be repeated. Each error message that is repeated has different text that is displayed after the error message.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because older versions of the Group Policy editor cannot interpret some string types that include more than 255 characters. These string types are included in parts of .adm files that are meant to be excluded by the "IF VERSION" construct.

Typically, the problem occurs when you try to view or modify a GPO that has been viewed by a different workstation, and that workstation contains .adm files that use the "IF VERSION >=5" construct. When an administrative workstation views a GPO, the workstation automatically updates that GPO with the latest version of the .adm files. If the workstation's .adm files are newer than the files that are contained in the \Adm folder of the domain GPO, the template files are updated. If the template files contain the "IF VERSION >=5" construct, when an administrative workstation tries to modify or to view the GPO, and the workstation does not have this hotfix installed, the errors occur.

Note Administrative template (.adm) files that use the "IF VERSION >=5" construct are included in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). This construct prevents unexpected behavior in some Group Policy settings when the settings are modified by older versions of the Group Policy editor.

For additional information about Group Policy administrative template files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

816662 Recommendations for managing Group Policy administrative template (.adm) files

RESOLUTION

Windows 2000 SP3 or later

Update information

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the 842933 package now.

Prerequisites

To install this update, you must have Windows 2000 SP3 or later installed on your computer.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this update.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other updates.

File information

The English version of this update 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
   --------------------------------------------------------
   27-May-2004  16:09  5.0.2195.6934    124,688  Gptext.dll
   16-May-2004  19:43  5.0.2195.6928  5,873,664  Sp3res.dll

Windows XP Professional SP1

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Update information

Windows XP, 32-bit editions

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the 842933 package now. For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Windows XP, 64-bit editions

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the 842933 package now. For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. 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.

Prerequisites

To install this update, you must have Windows XP SP1 or later installed on your computer.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this update.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other updates.

File information

Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
--------------------------------------------------------------
28-Jul-2004  01:43  5.1.2600.1579      76,288  Ipsec.sys
10-Aug-2004  21:43  5.1.2600.1579     334,848  Ipsecsnp.dll     
10-Aug-2004  21:43  5.1.2600.1579     164,864  Ipsecsvc.dll     
10-Aug-2004  21:43  5.1.2600.1579     364,544  Ipsmsnap.dll     
10-Aug-2004  21:43  5.1.2600.1579     261,120  Oakley.dll       
10-Aug-2004  21:43  5.1.2600.1579      98,304  Polstore.dll     
10-Aug-2004  21:43  5.1.2600.1579     163,840  Rasmans.dll      
10-Aug-2004  21:43  5.1.2600.1579      29,184  Winipsec.dll     
10-Aug-2004  21:43  5.1.2600.1581     183,808  Gptext.dll
This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Windows Server 2003

Update information

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
DownloadDownload the 842933 package now.

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
--------------------------------------------------------------
09-Aug-2004  22:26  5.2.3790.198      220,672  Gptext.dll


WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, click OK in each error message window to continue working with Group Policy. You must have administrative credentials to use this workaround.

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 about the terminology that is used in this article, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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

For additional information about the problem that is discussed in this article, and other Group Policy changes included in Windows XP SP2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

873449 Changes to Group Policy behavior after installing Windows XP Service Pack 2

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/1/2006
Keywords:kbQFE kbHotfixServer kbWinXPsp2fix kbWin2000SP5fix kbWinServ2003preSP1fix kbwinservperf kbMgmtServices kbGRPPOLICYprob kbGPO kberrmsg kbBug kbfix kbWin2000preSP5fix KB842933 kbAudITPRO
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