Knowledge Base

Err Msg: Error Opening Modem.inf File in the RAS Directory

Article ID: 167375

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

This article was previously published under Q167375

SYMPTOMS

When you try to configure Remote Access Services (RAS) using the Network tool in Control Panel, you may receive the following error messages:

Error opening Modem.inf file in the RAS directory.

Failed to initialize device list. Error opening Modem.inf file in the RAS directory.

Dial-Up Networking Setup encountered an unknown failure and will terminate now. Please contact your administrator to determine the cause of the problem.

Dialing out using Dial-Up Networking may work fine, however.

CAUSE

The Modem.inf file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Ras folder is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

Expand a new copy of the Modem.inf file from the Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM to the %SystemRoot%\System32\Ras folder using the following steps:

If a Modem.inf file already exists in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Ras folder, rename it to Modem.old.
Place the Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive.
Type the following line at a command prompt:
expand d:\i386\modem.in_ c:\winnt\system32\ras\modem.inf

NOTE: This command assumes that Windows NT is installed in the Winnt folder on drive C and that drive D is the CD-ROM drive. If this is not the case, adjust the command as necessary.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows NT 4.0 does not use the Modem.inf file for Dial-Up Networking. However, the Modem.inf file is required for the setup and configuration of modem devices in RAS properties. If the file is missing or damaged, RAS cannot display the list of devices.

Additional query words: information

Keywords: kbdialup kberrmsg kbhardware KB167375