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Q271867: Err Msg: Event ID: 2140 An Internal Windows NT Error Occurred

Article: Q271867
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): 4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 28-JUN-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to start the WWW, FTP, SMTP, or NNTP service, the system
returns the following error message, and the services cannot be started:

  Event ID: 2140
  Description: An internal Windows NT error occurred.

There are no Event Viewer events that indicate a problem with Internet
Information Server 4.0.

CAUSE
=====

The Metabase.bin file that stores all configuration information for the Internet
Information Server 4.0 has become corrupted. This can occur for the following
reasons:

- The system was abruptly shut down while the identify process was running.

- While using the Internet Services Manager, the system was abruptly shut down
  without the configuration information being stored.

RESOLUTION
==========

Find and restore a good copy of the metabase. There are three possible locations
for these backup copies:

1. Use the Find feature to do a search for the Metabase.bin.bak file in the
  Winnt\System32\Inetsrv folder.

2. If the Metabase.bin.bak file is not found, search for a Metabase.bak in the
  Winnt\System32\Inetsrv.

3. If Metabase.bin.bak is still not found, locate an offline copy.

When you locate a good backup copy of Metabase.bin, proceed to the following
steps to restore the metabase:

1. At the command prompt, type the following command to stop the Web services:

  "Net Stop IISADMIN /Y" (without the quotation marks)

2. In the Winnt\System32\Inetsrv folder, find and rename the Metabase.bin file
  to Metabase.old.

3. Rename Metabase.bin.bak or Metabase.bin (whichever was detected) to
  Metabase.bin

4. At the command prompt, attempt to start the World Wide Services by using the
  following commands:

  "Net Start W3SVC

  Net Start MSFTPSVC

  Net Start MSSMTPSVC

  Net Start MSNNTPSVC" (without the quotation marks)

If these steps do not resolve the problem, you can restore Metabase.bin from an
offline tape backup.

NOTE: When you restore from a backup file, configuration information can be lost
depending on the age of the backup copy. You can verify how old the copy is by
using the Time/Date Stamp on the Metabase.bin.bak file.

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

The list of possible causes is not an exhaustive list of possible reasons the
metabase may have become corrupted. However, if the service is unable to start
with the same error message, then using this resolution may be a possible fix.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis400
Version           : :4.0
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbpending

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