DOCUMENT:Q180361 23-JAN-2000 [pcmail] TITLE :"Failure to Initialize Modem Session" When Restarting External PRODUCT :Microsoft Mail For PC Networks PROD/VER:WINDOWS:3.5 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, version 3.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you are running an async instance of External as a service on Windows NT 4.0, stopping the service does not release the referenced modem. Subsequent attempts to restart the service result in "Failure to Initialize Modem Session" error messages in the Session.log file. ECHO to the modem's COM port fails as well. The computer must be restarted in order for the modem to be used again. CAUSE ===== Xtsrv32.exe does not recognize the escape code that Windows NT 4.0 passes when the service is stopped. So, even though the service is stopped, External is left running. WORKAROUND ========== To work around this problem, do the following: 1. Restart the computer and monitor the instance from Microsoft Mail Service Manager. 2. Press the ESCAPE key and "Y" (without the quotation marks) to exit. This releases the modem properly. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, version 3.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMailSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbMailPCN350 Version : WINDOWS:3.5 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= 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 2000.