Knowledge Base

Causes of Error Message "Couldn't Retrieve All Machines..."

Article ID: 151757

Article Last Modified on 10/27/2006


APPLIES TO


This article was previously published under Q151757
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you start the Systems Management Server Administrator program, you may receive the following error message:
Couldn't retrieve all machines. SMS administrator has encountered a problem attempting to load machines from the database.
After you click OK, most or all workstations show up in the Sites window. You receive the following error message when you execute a query:
Couldn't execute the specified query.

CAUSE

These errors are general and can occur in any of the following situations:

MORE INFORMATION

Enabling SQL Tracing may help narrow down the problem, and will log errors to the SMS\LOGS\UI.LOG on the site server when the SMS Administrator is run at the site server.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

To enable SQL Tracing, complete the following steps:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Rededt32.exe).
  2. Locate the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS\Tracing\

  3. Set the parameter SQLEnabled to 1.
  4. Restart the Systems Management Server Administrator program and re-create the error.
  5. Check the Sms\Logs\Ui.log using SMSTrace or Notepad.

Additional query words: prodsms

Keywords: kbprb kbsmsadmin KB151757