DOCUMENT:Q130396 07-NOV-1999 [pcmail] TITLE :PC NTMMTA: Err Msg: Unable to Find Specified Instance INI... PRODUCT :Microsoft Mail For PC Networks PROD/VER::3.5 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Mail Multitasking MTA for Windows NT, version 3.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you monitor an instance of External using the Microsoft Mail Multitasking MTA for Windows NT (NT MMTA), the following error may occur: Unable to Find Specified Instance INI Section CAUSE ===== External cannot read the EXTERNAL.INI file. One possible cause is that the EXTERNAL.INI file was saved as a Unicode file. Another possible cause for this error may be a missing instance name in the EXTERNAL.INI file. The instance name is required. RESOLUTION ========== Save the EXTERNAL.INI as a text file. Add an Instance name to the EXTERNAL.INI file by doing the following: - The correct Instance Name was selected from the Mail Service Manager (MSVMGR32.EXE) Edit Service dialog box. If not, either delete and recreate the service from the Microsoft Mail Service Manager dialog box, or change the settings in the EXTERNAL.INI. - The Instance Name field in the Edit Service dialog box does not contain External -. The Instance Name field should only contain the actual instance name. For example, [External - RemoteUsr1] In this example RemoteUsr1 is the instance name in the EXTERNAL.INI. This should be the entry in the Instance Name field in the Edit Service dialog box. The simplest way to ensure that this is entered correctly when you create the service in the Create Service dialog box is to: 1. Click the Edit INI... button to open the EXTERNAL.INI file. 2. Highlight the service name in the EXTERNAL.INI file as explained above. 3. Copy the highlighted text to the clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C. 4. Go back to the Create Service dialog box and click the Instance Name field. 5. Press Ctrl+V to paste the text from the clipboard to the Instance Name field. MORE INFORMATION ================ For MONITOR.EXE to run properly from the Monitor button from Microsoft Mail Service Manager, the EXTERNAL.INI settings must be correct. Monitor will flash an error message briefly, then disappear. MONITOR.EXE is installed by default in the \WINNT35 directory. The Service Manager will allow you to create an External or Dispatch instance without an Instance name specified. These instances can not be run, and when the External or Dispatch instance is launched without an Instance name, the service will appear to start, but no mail is delivered. Also, if a Monitor is started it will flash on the screen quickly and then disappear. Additional query words: 3.20 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbZNotKeyword2 kbMailSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbMailMMTA350NT Version : :3.5 ============================================================================= 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 1999.