DOCUMENT:Q261091 11-JUN-2000 [exchange] TITLE :XADM: "The Directory Is Busy. Wait a Few Minutes and Try Again" PRODUCT :Microsoft Exchange PROD/VER:winnt:5.5 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:exc55 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you attempt to add users to the directory, the following message is displayed: The directory is busy. Wait a few minutes and try again. Even if you wait several hours, this behavior still occurs. No events are logged in the application event log that coincide with this message. CAUSE ===== This issue can occur if the Exchange Server Administrator program tries to make a change to the directory when the busy flag of the directory is set. The busy flag is set when a section of code requires that no changes be made to the directory during a that time. If a thread stops responding or "hangs" in a critical section, the directory does not allow changes. WORKAROUND ========== To work around this issue, cycle the directory service. MORE INFORMATION ================ Note that if you are experiencing the issue that is described in this article and you change the registry values as outlined in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base Q160850 XADM: DS_E_BUSY After Directory Service Restore the change has no effect. The issue that is described in this article is not related to the inability to make directory changes while the directory makes copies of all of the objects that the directory replicated to other computers after the directory was backed up (this process is back synchronization, or "backsync") that is described in Q160850. Additional query words: DS_BUSY DS_E_BUSY DS Dir ====================================================================== Keywords : exc55 Technology : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange550 kbZNotKeyword2 Version : winnt:5.5 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.