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Q129047: Synchronizing DNS Information in Registry with Boot Files

Article: Q129047
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): WinNT:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbtool kbWinNT400sp4fix
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
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IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. 
Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if
a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring 
the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help 
topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS
========

Windows NT 4.0 imports Domain Name Service (DNS) information from boot files
into the registry when data is modified using DNS Manager. However, after it is
there, the information is maintained and updated only in the registry. If data
is changed using DNS Manager, the information is not written back to the
original boot file.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or
Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack


Microsoft has designed a hotfix for the DNS service that causes it to
automatically write back to boot files any changes in the registry that affect
information stored in boot files (such as new zones, change files, change zone
types, change master, change forwarders, and so on).

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may
require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that
problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use
Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and
Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete
Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in
Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If
you are running Windows NT or Windows 2000, you should also update your
Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

If you want to enable Windows NT to store and track DNS information in boot
files, apply the above hotfix and use Registry Editor to delete the value
EnableRegistryBoot from following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DNS\Parameters

You can now replace your desired boot file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns
folder. During startup, the DNS service now reads from the boot file first,
overriding any settings in the registry. After the boot file has been processed,
secondary information not found in the boot file is loaded from the registry
(secondary security, notify lists, forwarding timeouts, listen IP list, and so
on).

  WARNING: Initially, when you configure Windows NT to read and write DNS
  settings to the boot files, any changes made in the registry through DNS
  Manager that are not present in the boot files are lost. After making the
  above registry change, all new changes made through DNS Manager are written
  to the boot files.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT
Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows
NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
Service Pack 4.


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Keywords          : kbtool kbWinNT400sp4fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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