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Q153501: PRB: "Error reading from file" When Logging into SourceSafe

Article: Q153501
Product(s): Microsoft SourceSafe
Version(s): 3.1,4.0,5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 kbSSafe310
Last Modified: 06-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows, versions 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0 
- Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
- Microsoft SourceSafe for MS-DOS, version 3.1 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you start the Visual SourceSafe Explorer, the following message may appear
before or after you're prompted to log in:

  "Error reading from file"

CAUSE
=====

One possible cause is that the Names.dat file is corrupted. This file contains
the long filenames of both projects and files in the SourceSafe database.

RESOLUTION
==========

At the command prompt, type:

     analyze -f <path to data folder>

For example:

     analyze -f s:\\vss\data


STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe600 kbSSafe310 
Technology        : kbSSafeSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword2 kbZNotKeyword3 kbSSafe310DOS kbSSafe600 kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe16bitSearch kbSSafe32bitSearch
Version           : :3.1,4.0,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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