Error message in the event log on the server that is running SharePoint Portal Server 2003: "Unable to connect to the database"

When you review the event log on the server that is running Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003, you may find that many entries of the following error message are logged in the event log:

This problem may occur when a user cannot successfully connect to a database on the server that is running SharePoint Portal Server 2003.

This problem was first fixed in a hotfix that is now contained in a service pack. If you installed the latest SharePoint Portal Server 2003 service pack, you do not have to install the hotfix.

Service pack information

This problem is corrected in SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 3. To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for SharePoint Portal Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
After you install the service pack, follow the steps that are listed in the "How to enable the hotfix" section of the article to set the Database Connect Timeout registry key and to activate the hotfix.

Hotfix information

How to obtain the hotfix

This issue is fixed in the SharePoint Portal Server 2003 post-Service Pack 1 Hotfix Package that is dated December 8, 2005. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: To enable this hotfix, follow these steps.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\Secure
3. After you select the subkey that is specified in step 2, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
4. Type Database Connect Timeout, and then press ENTER.
5. Right-click Database Connect Timeout, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type the number of seconds that you want for the database connection time-out value, and then click OK.
   
   Note The default value for the database connection time-out value is 20 seconds.
7. On the File menu, click Exit to exit Registry Editor.

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

This problem was first corrected in SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 3.