How to Manually Recreate a WINS Database

ID: Q168712

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In the event of WINS database corruption, it may be necessary to delete and to recreate the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) database files. The information in this article will demonstrate how to delete and recreate WINS database files.

In an environment where multiple WINS servers are involved, a maintenance window may need to be scheduled.

Use the following steps to prepare before the scheduled maintenance window:

  1. Ensure that the WINS Servers are NOT Split Registered.


  2. A few days before the maintenance is scheduled (about half the Renewal Interval - for Windows NT 4.0 it will be three days) set the Renewal Interval (WINS Server Configuration in WINS Manager) to two hrs on all WINS servers.


Rebuild Process

  1. Break Replication on ALL WINS Servers.


  2. Recreate WINS database on ALL WINS Servers. Follow the instructions in the WINS DATABASE RECREATION section below.


  3. Reboot PDCs. Required.


  4. Reboot BDCs. Optional, but highly recommended.


  5. Reboot Application/Database/File/Print Servers. Optional, but recommended.


  6. Setup Replication. Hub & Spoke Model is highly recommended.


  7. Reset Renewal Interval on All WINS Servers to the default. Windows NT 4.0 = 144hrs; Windows NT 3.51 = 96hrs.


NOTE: Rebooting PDCs, BDCs, and essential Servers registers them with WINS. Lack of registration will cause Name Resolution problems. Since the <1b> entry is registered by the PDC and this entry is required for many domain- related functions such as browsing, NetLogon, and so on, it is essential that you reboot the PDC.

WINS DATABASE RECREATION

NOTE: The procedure for recreating the Wins.mdb file is different for Windows NT Server 3.51 and Windows NT Server 4.0.

Windows NT Server version 3.51

To delete and recreate your WINS database, follow these steps:
  1. Go to Control Panel. Double-click the Services icon, click Windows Internet Name Service, and then click Stop.


  2. Create a temp directory (for example, WINS_Old). Move the current contents of the WINS directory to the temp directory.

    WINS is located at: %SystemRoot%\System32\WINS\


  3. Copy the System.mdb file from your original Windows NT 3.51 source media. Type the following at a command prompt and then press ENTER after each line:


    4. copy D:\i386\System.md_ %SystemRoot%\System32\WINS\System.md_

    expand %SystemRoot%\System32\WINS\System.md_ %SystemRoot%\System32\WINS\System.mdb
    NOTE: The expand command line above is all on one line, it has been wrapped for readability.

  4. Restart WINS.


When WINS is restarted, new WINS database files will be created.

Windows NT Server version 4.0

To delete and recreate your WINS database, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the Services icon, click Windows Internet Name Service, and then click Stop.


  2. Create a temp directory (for example, WINS_Old). Move the current contents of the WINS directory to the temp directory.

    WINS is located at: %SystemRoot%\System32\WINS\


  3. Restart WINS.


When WINS is started, new WINS database files will be created. 


Keywords          : kbnetwork kbhowto nthowto ntnetserv nttcp NTSrv 
Version           : WinNT:3.51,4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: February 17, 1999