A hotfix is available that addresses two problems with the Out-of-Box Experience for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

A hotfix is available that addresses two problems with the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008.

Symptom 1

Consider the following scenario:

• You deploy Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 from an image.
• The display was switched to the Portrait orientation when the image was built.
• A user starts the computer for the first time and performs some initial setup tasks as part of the OOBE process.

In this scenario, on several screens of the OOBE process, the background is distorted. In some cases, there seems to be a visual distortion that resembles a water stain on the background.

Symptom 2

Consider the following scenario:

• You have a computer that was preinstalled with Windows Vista or with Windows Server 2008.
• The operating system was deployed from an image.
  
  Note This typically occurs if you bought the computer from an OEM.
• You start the computer for the first time and perform some initial setup tasks.
• When you set the computer name, you enter a name that contains some Unicode characters, and the total size of the computer name exceeds 15 bytes.
• You complete the initial setup and then log on to the system.

In this scenario, some services, such as the Remote Access Connection Manager service, do not start.

Note Each Unicode character may consume 2, 3, or 4 bytes, depending on the character set. For example, this problem occurs if you enter more than eight Japanese hiragana characters in the computer name setting.

Cause of symptom 2

The Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) process incorrectly ignores an error that is returned when users enter a computer name that exceeds 15 bytes. Therefore, the invalid computer name is saved in the system configuration, and it is used as the NetBIOS name. All services that depend on the NetBIOS name in this scenario do not start.

To resolve symptom 2 if it has already occurred, set the computer name to a valid name. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click Advanced system settings.
   
   
   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.
3. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
4. Type a new name in the Computer name box, and then click OK two times.

OEMs can use the following hotfix to prevent this problem.

Hotfix information

Important Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only one of these products may be listed on the �Hotfix Request� page. To request the hotfix package that applies to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, just select the product that is listed on the page.

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 Web site: 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.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix on a Windows Vista-based computer, you must have Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or a later service pack installed. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: No prerequisites are required for Windows Server 2008-based computers.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

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.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

• The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

  Version	Product	SR_Level	Service branch
  6.0.6000.16xxx	Windows Vista	RTM	GDR
  6.0.6000.20xxx	Windows Vista	RTM	LDR
  6.0.6001.18xxx	Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008	SP1	GDR
  6.0.6001.22xxx	Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008	SP1	LDR
  6.0.6002.18xxx	Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008	SP2	GDR
  6.0.6002.22xxx	Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008	SP2	LDR

• Service Pack 1 is integrated into Windows Server 2008.
• The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The security catalog files (attributes not listed) are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008

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

Known Issue

There is a known issue that occurs after you install this hotfix. Specifically, the links on the User Accounts page are not enabled after you install this hotfix and then input a computer name that contains some Unicode characters. To work around the issue, restart the computer. After you restart the computer, the links on the User Account page are re-enabled.

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

Additional file information for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008