KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q324026: XCON: Error 2140 and Event IDs, MTA Does Not Start

Article: Q324026
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg
Last Modified: 06-AUG-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you 
modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore 
the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the 
registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS
========

If you try to start the Microsoft Exchange Message Transfer Agent (MTA) service,
you may receive the following error message:

  Could not start the Microsoft Exchange Message Transfer Agent service on
  \\<ServerName>. Error 2140: An internal Windows NT error occurred.

If you try to run the MTA Database Integrity Checker Utility (Mtacheck.exe), you
may receive the following error message:

  Database contains serious errors and cannot be automatically repaired.

Additionally, you may see the following events in the Application event log of
Windows NT Event Viewer:

  Event ID: 2152:
  Event Type: Warning
  Event Source: MSExchangeMTA
  Event Category: Operating System
  Description:

  MSExchangeMTA - A fatal database error occurred, the database recovery
  operation was not successful and manual correction will be required. Details
  can be found in the file: <drive>
  :\Exchsrvr\Mtadata\.\MTACHECK.OUT\MTACHECK.LOG. Please contact Microsoft
  Product Support Services. [DB Server MAIN BASE 1 14] (16)

  Event ID:2127
  Event Type: Warning
  Event Source: MSExchangeMTA
  Event Category: Operating System
  Description:

  An MTA database server error was encountered. Error accessing object attribute
  (AAT) on a Read/Write operation. Filename:
  <drive>:\Exchsrvr\Mtadata\.\DB000068.DAT. File operation: 0. Operating
  system error: 2127. Referenced object: OPEN (00000000 => N/A). Referenced
  object error 00000000. [0 DB Server OPERATOR 22] (14)

  Event ID:2155
  Event Type: Warning
  Event Source: MSExchangeMTA
  Event Category: Internal Processing
  Description:

  An MTA database server error was encountered. Failed to read attribute
  information (AAT) for object 01000068. Database server error code: 2127. [DB
  Server OPERATOR 22 29] (14)

  Event: 2187
  Source: MTA
  Type: Warning
  Cat: Internal Processing

  Description: An MTA database server error was encountered while attempting to
  unlock an object which is not locked. Called from MTA. Procedure 460. Object
  at fault: 06000174. [DB Server DISP:ROUTER 16 58] (14)

  Event ID: 2219
  Source: MSExchangeMTA
  Category: Field Engineering
  Description:

  The MTA is running recovery on the internal message database because the MTA
  was not shut down cleanly. This operation may take some time. Status updates
  will be written to the Windows NT Event Log. [%1 %2 %3 %4] (14)

CAUSE
=====

This issue may occur if incorrect values exist for the location of the MTA
database path in the registry.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this behavior, edit the registry to refer to the correct location for
the MTA database files. To do so, follow these steps:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems
that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot
guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor
incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks), and then click
  OK.

3. Locate the following registry entry:

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeMTA\Parameters\MTA
  Database Path

4. Double-click the registry entry that you located in step 3, and then type the
  correct path to the MTA database files in the "Value data" box. For example,
  "<drive>:\exchsrvr\mtadata" (without the quotation marks).

5. Locate the following registry entry:

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeMTA\Parameters\MTA
  Run Directory

6. Double-click the entry that you located in step 5, and then verify that the
  correct location for the MTA Run Directory is displayed in the "Value data"
  box. For example, "<drive>:\exchsrvr\mtadata" (without the quotation
  marks).

7. On the Registry menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

NOTE:You can also use Microsoft Exchange Server Performance Optimizer to move the
MTA database files. To start Performance Optimizer, click Start, point to
Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click Microsoft Exchange
Optimizer. If you want to run Performance Optimizer in verbose mode, follow the
steps in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

  Q246125 XADM: Exchange Server 5.5 Performance Optimizer Verbose Mode

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

For additional information about the Message Transfer Agent (MTA), click the
article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q282780 XCON: MTA Database Format and Structure

For additional information about the Mtacheck utility, click the article numbers
below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q163326 XCON: How and Why to Run Mtacheck

  Q148284 XCON: When and How to Use the Mtacheck Utility

  Q175495 Performing An MTACHECK

For additional information about the Microsoft Exchange Server Performance
Optimizer, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q266051 XADM: The "Understanding the Microsoft Exchange Server Performance
  Optimizer White Paper" Is Available

Additional query words: front page

======================================================================
Keywords          : kberrmsg 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange550 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : :5.5
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.