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The size of the "HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT" registry hive continuously increases on a Windows Server-based server


View products that this article applies to.

Symptoms

Assume that you have a server that is running Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Many users connect to the server by using a certain remote desktop application. In this situation, the size of the following registry hive may exceed the limit:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT
Therefore, the users cannot connect to the server.

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Cause

This issue occurs because of an error that occurs in the Print Spooler modules. When a user establishes a new remote desktop session to the server, the printer settings of the user are written in the following registry subkey:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Printers\DevModes2
However, the printer settings are never deleted. Therefore, the size of the following registry hive becomes larger and larger, and various problems are caused by this behavior:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT

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Resolution

Update Rollup for Windows Server 2012 R2

To resolve this issue in Windows Server 2012 R2, install update 2955164. For more information about update 2955164, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
2955164 Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2 update rollup: May 2014
To resolve this issue in Windows Server 2008 R2, install the hotfix that is described in this article.

Hotfix information for Windows Server 2008 R2

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft website: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Compress the registry hive

After you install this update, we recommend that you compress the following registry hive if its size exceed the limit:HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULTTo compress the registry hive, follow the steps in the following Microsoft knowledge base article:Note When you follow these steps to compress HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT, the hive file can be located in C:\windows\system32\config\DEFAULT.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

For more information about how to obtain a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

976932 Information about Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Registry information

To apply this hotfix, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.
File information

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Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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More Information

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional file information

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Keywords: kb, kbautohotfix, kbqfe, kbhotfixserver, kbfix, kbsurveynew, kbexpertiseadvanced

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Article Info
Article ID : 2871131
Revision : 1
Created on : 1/7/2017
Published on : 2/26/2015
Exists online : False
Views : 633