"Services list of dependent services could not be enumerated. -800ff336" error message when you try to use the Exchange Server Performance Optimizer

After you apply Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4) on your computer, the Microsoft Exchange Server Performance Optimizer does not run successfully in Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5. When you try to use the Performance Optimizer, you experience the following symptoms:

• The Automatically move the databases option is unavailable (appears dimmed).
• You receive the following error message:
  The services list of dependent services could not be enumerated. -800FF336

This problem occurs because Windows 2000 SP4 sets the maximum buffer size of the EnumDependentServices function to 64 kilobytes (64 KB). However, the Performance Optimizer requires a buffer that is larger than 64 KB.

Hotfix information

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

Before you apply this hotfix (hotfix 821543), you must install the following software updates in the given order:

1. Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack 4
2. Hotfix 309149
3. Hotfix 282533

Note Hotfix 309149 and hotfix 282533 include multiple hotfixes. You must apply all these hotfixes before you apply hotfix 821543.
For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfix.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for your situation:

• Stop all services that are related to Exchange Server, and then run the Performance Optimizer. Then, restart all services that are related to Exchange Server.
• Remove Windows 2000 SP4 from the Exchange Server 5.5 computer.

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

For more information about how hotfix packages are named, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: