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Error 161 occurs when you use the runas command in a Terminal Services session

Article ID: 832821 - View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

When you use the runas command from a Terminal Services session to create a process, such as the Cmd.exe process, and then try to access Service Control Manager, you receive an error message that is similar to the following:

C:\WINNT\system32>net start
System error 161 has occurred.
The specified path is invalid.

If you create named kernel objects by using functions such as CreateEvent or CreateMutex the same error message may occur. The error happens regardless of whether you use the "Global\" prefix or not. (Any non-NULL name fails.)

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RESOLUTION

Hotfix Information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart Requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix Replacement Information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File Information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version           Size     File name
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   05-Nov-2003  00:22  5.0.2195.6862     381,712  Advapi32.dll
   17-Nov-2003  20:55  5.0.2195.6862      18,192  Seclogon.dll

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.

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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how hotfix packages are named, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

816915

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816915/ )

New file naming schema for Microsoft Windows software update packages

For additional information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ )

Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

294676

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294676/ )

How to enable and use the "run as" command when running programs in Windows

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