XCON: MTA Generates 2140 Error Due to Bad or Missing TPL File

ID: Q154385

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you start the Microsoft Exchange Server Message Transfer Agent (MTA), the following error might occur:

Could not start the Exchange Message Transfer Agent service on \\servername.
Error 2140: An internal Windows NT error occurred.
Looking in the Event Viewer, the application log shows the following stop error:
Event ID 9400 MSExchangeMTA
An MTA fatal error has occurred. The file <filename>.TPL could not be opened. [BASE MAIN BASE 1] (16)
The MTA will not be able to start at this point.


CAUSE

The 9400 error message will give a filename (Bind.tpl, Rose.tpl, Common.tpl, and so forth). This file should be located in the \Exchsrvr\Mtadata directory and might either be missing or corrupt.


RESOLUTION

  1. Identify the file in the error message and see if it is located in the \Exchsrvr\Mtadata directory.


  2. If it is there, rename it in File Manager.


  3. Whether it was in the Exchsrvr\Mtdata directory or not, copy a new instance of the file from the \Setup\<Cputype>\Mtadata directory located on the Microsoft Exchange Server compact disc.


  4. Restart the MTA service.


Additional query words: 2140 mta server down crash 9406 


Keywords          : kbusage XCON 
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: March 31, 1999