Improper Shutdown Occurrence Is Reported in the Event Viewer System Log

ID: Q236949

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you restart a Windows NT-based computer after it is improperly shut down, the following error message may appear in the Event Viewer system log file:

Event ID: 6008
Source: Event Log
Description: The previous system shutdown at time on date was unexpected.


CAUSE

A remote shutdown-related problem using the InitiateSystemShutdown() API call is fixed in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4. This fix caused this problem.


RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT 4.0 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp
The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date      Time     Size      File name      Platform
   ----------------------------------------------------
   99/05/14  09:32a   188,176   Winlogon.exe   x86
   99/05/14  09:30a   273,680   Winlogon.exe   Alpha

NOTE: If this product was already installed on your computer when you purchased it from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and you need this fix, please call the Pay Per Incident number listed on the above Web site. If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, and if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested, no fee will be charged. However, if you request additional technical support, and if your no-charge technical support period has expired, or if you are not eligible for standard no-charge technical support, you may be charged a non-refundable fee.

For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q154871 Determining If You Are Eligible for No-Charge Technical Support


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0.


MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To prevent the improper shutdown event entry from being written to the Event Viewer system log:

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).


  2. Locate the following registry key:


    3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability\LastAliveStamp
  3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:


    4. Value name: TimeStampInterval
    Data type: REG_DWORD
    Value: The number, in minutes, between time stamp events written to the log. Setting the value to 0 prevents the "last alive" time stamp from being logged. Only boot and normal shutdown events are then written to the log file.
  4. Quit Registry Editor.


Additional query words: dirty 


Keywords          : kberrmsg ntsp kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 NT4SP6Fix 
Version           : winnt:4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 19, 1999