DOCUMENT:Q173385 20-MAY-2002 [winnt] TITLE :System Policy Editor Will Not Allow More Than 255 Characters PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbWinNT400sp4fix win95 win98 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition - Microsoft Windows 98 - Microsoft Windows 95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe. SYMPTOMS ======== System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) does not allow a Logon Banner Text field of greater than 255 characters. Directly modifying the registry key, however, will allow a Banner of greater than 255 characters. RESOLUTION ========== To resolve this problem, perform the following steps: 1. To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack If a logon banner of greater than 1024 characters is required, a supported fix is now available from Microsoft that will allow the administrator to create a logon banner of up to 2048 characters. This fix 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 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://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: +------------------------------------------------------+ | Date | Time | Size | File Name | Platform | +------------------------------------------------------+ | 10/26/98 | 01:21p | 123,152 | poledit.exe | i386 | +------------------------------------------------------+ | 10/26/98 | 01:21p | 156,788 | poledit.dbg | i386 | +------------------------------------------------------+ | 10/26/98 | 01:23p | 196,880 | poledit.exe | alpha | +------------------------------------------------------+ | 10/26/98 | 01:23p | 96,700 | poledit.dbg | alpha | +------------------------------------------------------+ For more information on this hotfix, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: ARTICLE-ID: Q179553 TITLE : Access Violation in PolEdit When Defining Allowed Windows Apps 2. Use a text editor, such as Notepad, to change the following in the Winnt.adm file: for Windows NT: from: CATEGORY !!Login_Policies POLICY !!LogonBanner KEYNAME "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" PART !!LogonBanner_Text EDITTEXT VALUENAME "LegalNoticeText" MAXLEN 255 DEFAULT !!LogonBanner_DefText END PART to: CATEGORY !!Login_Policies POLICY !!LogonBanner KEYNAME "Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" PART !!LogonBanner_Text EDITTEXT VALUENAME "LegalNoticeText" MAXLEN 1024 DEFAULT !!LogonBanner_DefText END PART NOTE: Replace 1024 with 2048 for the hotfix. for Windows 95: from: VALUENAME "LegalNoticeText" MAXLEN 255 DEFAULT !!LogonBanner_DefText to: VALUENAME "LegalNoticeText" MAXLEN 1000 DEFAULT !!LogonBanner_DefText NOTE: Replace 1000 with 2048 for the hotfix. 3. Save file and quit the text editor. To work around this problem, perform the following steps: WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows. 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" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. Modify the following registry key directly for this value and do not use a System Policy that will affect this registry key. 1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe). 2. Locate the LegalNoticeText:REG_SZ: value under the following key in the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion \Winlogon NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability. 3. Click String on the Edit menu, type the new value, and then click OK. 4. Quit Registry Editor. 5. Do not use a system policy that affects this registry key. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4. Additional query words: Poledit LogonPolicy spe ====================================================================== Keywords : kbWinNT400sp4fix win95 win98 Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch kbWin95search kbWin98search kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin98 Version : WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0 Hardware : ALPHA x86 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.