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Q250067: WritePrivateProfileString() May Not Work

Article: Q250067
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6,4.0 SP6a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbOSWinNT400bug kbSysSettings kbGrpDSUser kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a 
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SYMPTOMS
========

If the WritePrivateProfileString function is called to update an .ini file in a
folder to which you do not have Delete access, the call does not succeed.
Calling the GetLastError function returns ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED.

CAUSE
=====

WritePrivateProfileString tries to open the file with Delete access. Because you
do not have Delete permissions for the folder, the opening of the file does not
succeed.

RESOLUTION
==========

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to
systems experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the
fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and
information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World
Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may
be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional
support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in
question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

  Date        Time      Size       File name     Platform
  -------------------------------------------------------
  01/02/2000  12:34p    375,056    Kernel32.dll  x86
  01/02/2000  12:33p    589,584    Kernel32.dll  Alpha



WORKAROUND
==========

Grant Delete permissions to the user for the folder containing the .ini file.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are
listed at the beginning of this article.


Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbOSWinNT400bug kbSysSettings kbGrpDSUser kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp5 kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp6 kbWinNTSEnt400sp5 kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400sp6 kbWinNTS400sp5 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTW400sp6 kbWinNTSEnt400SP6a kbWinNTW400SP6a
Version           : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6,4.0 SP6a
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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