Err Msg: "Temp Directory Not Accessible" After Applying TSE SP4

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This article was previously published under Q234029

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SYMPTOMS

After you apply Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4 (SP4), error messages similar to the following may be displayed:

temp directory not accessible

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This behavior occurs because Terminal Server SP4 does not reset the permissions or delete existing temporary folders that are orphaned after a dirty shutdown. This behavior change was added in SP4 to improve security by preventing new users from viewing work that may have been abandoned by previous sessions because of a dirty shutdown.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/152734/EN-US/ ) How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

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WORKAROUND

For additional information on how to work around this behavior, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

186516 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186516/EN-US/ ) Terminal Server Commands: FLATTEMP

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition, Service Pack 5.

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MORE INFORMATION

Normally, Terminal Server session temporary folders are removed by WINLOGON when a user logs off or the session is reset. However, a dirty shutdown orphans the temporary directories for any active or disconnected sessions. A dirty shutdown occurs when the server crashes because of hardware problems, software problems, or power disruption. In addition, a regression introduced in SP4 winlogon may cause a dirty shutdown when a server is restarted without a user logged on to the console.

Note that the hotfix listed in this article does not address the issue of folders not being deleted at logoff; it only ensures that if the folder already exists and a user logging on gets assigned the same temporary folder, that permissions for the existing folder will be set correctly for the new user. EMP folders may still exist.

For more information, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

230449 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/230449/EN-US/ ) Service Control Handler May Not Receive SERVICE_CONTROL_SHUTDOWN Notification

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