KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q131117: PC NTMMTA: Err Msg: Could Not Start the Mail External…

Article: Q131117
Product(s): Microsoft Mail For PC Networks
Version(s): 3.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 07-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Mail Multitasking MTA for Windows NT, version 3.5 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

The following error is generated when you try to start the Multitasking MTA for
Microsoft Windows NT (NT MMTA) as a service:

  Could not start the Mail External - [instance name] service on
  \\sharename

  Error 2140: An internal Windows NT error occurred.

CAUSE
=====

This is a generic error generated by Windows NT. The possible causes are:

- Incorrect share name to the home postoffice. For example, if the server\share
  name is \\HUB\MSMAIL, and you enter \\HUB\MAILDATA, when you start the
  service, you will get a 2140 error message.

- Incorrect password for the service account.

- Incorrect entries in the EXTERNAL.INI.

- The Novell NetWare user account does not have proper rights on the Novell
  server.

- Incorrect UNC path syntax to the home postoffice when you define the service.
  The format should be \\server\share.

The 2140 error may also be caused by the following:

- On start up of the NT MMTA service, an invalid UNCName exists for the home
  postoffice (PO).

- The OS/2 sub-system has been removed, and you try to run EXTERNAL.EXE as a
  service.

- Each user account on each Novell server has only a certain number of
  connections allowed to that server with that account (enabled in Syscon). If
  the MMTA dynamic connection is exceeding that allowed number of connections
  for the service account, then the service will fail to start with the 2140
  error.

NOTE: The following error will also be generated when you run the Windows NT
EXTERNAL.EXE from a command prompt with the OS/2 sub-system missing:

  Cannot find EXTERNAL.EXE

RESOLUTION
==========

To check the service account password, go to Control Panel, Services.
Double-click the service, and check the password used.

Ensure that all the options specified for the service account in Service Manager
and EXTERNAL.INI are correct. Also, check for misspellings and wrong entries.

Ensure that the NT MMTA ID that will logon to the Novell server has RWCEMF
trustee rights to the MAILDATA directory.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbZNotKeyword2 kbMailSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbMailMMTA350NT
Version           : :3.5

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.