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Q167900: Error Attempting to Save System Policy File

Article: Q167900
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): WinNT:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbnetwork kbother
Last Modified: 22-FEB-2002

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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 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you use System Policy Editor and attempt to save a policy file on a
computer running Windows NT, you may receive the following error message:

  An error occurred writing the registry. The file cannot be saved.

CAUSE
=====

To save a policy file using System Policy Editor on a computer running Windows
NT, you must be a member of the administrators group. The reason for this
limitation is that, even when you are only saving a .pol file to the local
system, you need to access registry settings to complete the operation.


MORE INFORMATION
================

The specified policy file will be saved to the system. The size of the file will
be 0 KB. If you attempt to open this file you receive an error message similar
to the following:

  Unable to open c:\ntconfig.pol:
  A required privilege is not held by the client.

When you try the same procedure using an administrator-equivalent account you
will receive an error message similar to the following:

  Unable to open c:\ntconfig.pol:
  The configuration registry database is corrupt.

Additional query words: system policy editor save as rights poledit

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Keywords          : kbenv kbnetwork kbother 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbprb

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