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Q191830: Memory Leak Due to Repeated Logon/Logoff May Corrupt Profiles

Article: Q191830
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 4.0,4.0 SP3
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWinNT400sp4fix
Last Modified: 09-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 SP3 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP3 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Repeated logging on and logging off of a system without shutting down can lead
to memory loss. Performance Monitor displays Handle Count and Private Bytes
steadily increasing for the Winlogon.exe process. This may cause problems
starting applications and can also cause profile corruption (local and
roaming).


CAUSE
=====

Memory allocated when logging on is not released when logging off.


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



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.


Additional query words: 1009 1450

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Keywords          : kbWinNT400sp4fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp3 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400sp3 kbWinNTS400search kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : :4.0,4.0 SP3
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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