Improper Shutdown Occurrence Is Reported in the Event Viewer System Log (236949)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you restart a computer running Windows NT after it has been shutdown using a utility (such as Shutdown.exe from the Windows NT resource kit) or method that calls the InitiateSystemShutdown() API (for example, remote shutdown), the following error message may appear in the Windows NT Event Viewer System log file:

Event ID: 6008
Source: Event Log
Description: The previous system shutdown at time on date was unexpected.

RESOLUTION

Windows NT Server or Workstation 4.0

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/servicepacks/ -or-
152734how to obtain the latest windows nt 4.0 service pack

For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition.

This problem was first corrected in Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6.

MORE INFORMATION

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 prevent the improper shutdown event entry from being written to the Event Viewer system log:

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
Locate the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability\LastAliveStamp
On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
Value name: TimeStampInterval
Data type: REG_DWORD
Value: The number, in minutes, between time stamp events written to the log. Setting the value to 0 prevents the "last alive" time stamp from being logged. Only boot and normal shutdown events are then written to the log file.
Quit Registry Editor.