Overcoming User32.dll Initialization Failure Errors

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


To fix this behavior, you must edit the registry and restart the computer that is affected.

1. Run the Registry Editor(Regedt32.exe).
2. Under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:
   
   \System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\ SubSystems\Windows

The default data for this value may look something like the following (all on one line):

   %SystemRoot%\system32\csrss.exe ObjectDirectory=\Windows
   SharedSection=1024,3072 Windows=On SubSystemType=Windows
   ServerDll=basesrv,1 ServerDll=winsrv:UserServerDllInitialization,3
   ServerDll=winsrv:ConServerDllInitialization,2 ProfileControl=Off
   MaxRequestThreads=16
				

You must make the following change to this value:

Scan along the line until you reach the part that defines the SharedSection values and add ",512" after the second number. This value should now look something like the following:

   %SystemRoot%\system32\csrss.exe ObjectDirectory=\Windows
   SharedSection=1024,3072,512 Windows=On SubSystemType=Windows
   ServerDll=basesrv,1 ServerDll=winsrv:UserServerDllInitialization,3
   ServerDll=winsrv:ConServerDllInitialization,2 ProfileControl=Off
   MaxRequestThreads=16
				

After making this change, quit Regedt32, and then restart the server.

This change limits the size of desktop heaps created by non-interactive services to 512 KB, which should be ample for most services.

Adding this optional third value defines the desktop heap size for non-interactive desktops (services) as 512K. By default, they may use the same desktop heap size as interactive desktops, which is defined by the second value (3072, or 3 MB). The minimum that this third value can be set to is 128. Any attempts to set this value to less than 128 result in 128 being used. If you set this value to 512, approximately 90 services can be started before this behavior reoccurs.