KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q140461: PC NTMMTA: Err Msg: Service Instance Not Found

Article: Q140461
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
========

When a Windows NT Multitasking MMTA (NT MMTA) Dispatch or External instance is
running, Control Panel, Services shows the instance as started and mail is being
moved, or Performance Monitor (PerfMon) shows the appropriate number of OS/2
processes active.

However, when you start a Monitor for the instance from the Mail Service Manager,
you will get an MS-DOS box that flashes open and closes. In addition, when you
start a Monitor for the instance from the Command window, you will get the
following error message:

  Error: Service instance not found. Service may not be running.

CAUSE
=====

The NT MMTA instance was previously stopped while a Monitor was connected to it.
The instance was restarted while the Monitor was still open. The running Monitor
did not connect to the restarted NT MMTA instance (expected behavior), and the
Monitor was closed.

All subsequent tries to start a Monitor for the restarted NT MMTA instance will
fail with the symptoms given above.

RESOLUTION
==========

Stop the problem NT MMTA instance, and start it again. Then start a Monitor for
the instance; the Monitor should start successfully and connect to the NT MMTA
instance.

In the future, if an NT MMTA instance has a Monitor running, make sure the
Monitor is stopped when the instance is stopped.

Additional query words: 3.50 mta

======================================================================
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.