Err Msg: An Error Has Occurred in the Registry...

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system, version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

If a user is logging on to a domain from a new workstation for the first time, the following error message may be generated:

   An error has occurred in the registry. The Program Manager's settings
   and groups cannot be accessed.

CAUSE

While the domain controller possesses account information about the user and the user does not belong to any global groups that were migrated to the local computer when joining the domain, the actual local computer does not see any information about the user's profile because the user is not registered in a local group or as a local user. This will most often happen when logging on to a trusted domain.

RESOLUTION

The Administrator must sign on locally and through User Manager, add the user name to a local group (such as Users). This can be done by doing the following:

1. Log on as Administrator and run the User Manager located in the Administrative Tools group.

2. Highlight and double-click a local group suitable for the user, such as Users or Administrators.

3. Choose Add and select the domain the user resides in. Select the user, choose Add, and then choose OK.

4. Log on as the user to verify that the program groups are there.