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"Undefined service gds_db/tcp" Error on XP

A number of people have reported the error in the title of this post when connecting to remote IB servers after something changed in Windows XP — perhaps a security patch or service pack. I’m still unclear as to the details. But it seems that a registry key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesTcpipParametersDataBasePath, changed type, and changing it back to the original type fixes the problem. So if you see this error, run regedit on the client workstation, and do the following:

  1. Locate the key referenced above
  2. Rename it
  3. Create a new key of the same name, DatabasePath, but make it of type "Expandable String Value" (REG_EXPAND_SZ)
  4. Copy the Value from the old key

Thanks to Kaj Ekman for posting the solution.

Update: As Kaj notes in comments, MSN Messenger 7.x seems to cause this, both on install and when running "Connection Troubleshooter" (an unintenionally ironic name?).

{ 17 } Comments

  1. Albert Research | October 7, 2005 at 3:37 am | Permalink

    You scare me :-)

    This exactly happened to me yesterday ! 8-)
    I found the same solution googleling … I did not had any update installed… maybe some other program did it.. firewall, messenger.. I probably have to keep one eye on this..

  2. Kaj Ekman | October 13, 2005 at 2:18 pm | Permalink

    Installing MSN Messenger 7.5.0306 atleast changes the registry key…

  3. Craig Stuntz | October 13, 2005 at 2:25 pm | Permalink

    Thanks again, Kaj. This link:

    http://hardware.mcse.ms/message104350.html

    Has a lot more info.

  4. Liridon Hoxha | October 14, 2005 at 9:47 am | Permalink

    The problem is on the following registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\DataBasePath

    1. run the regedit system

    a) Go "START Menu " click "RUN" write "regedit" and click "OK"

    2)

    a)Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

    b) Go to "System"

    c) Go to "CurrentControlSet"

    d) Go to "Services"

    e) Go to "Tcpip"

    f) Go to "Parameters"

    3) On the right part of windows you will find the DataBasePath

    a) Go and change this name to DB_OLD (Or any other Name)

    b) With the right click Go to "NEW" –> Expandable String Value

    c) Give the following Name to this Registry "DataBasePath".

    d) Copy the Content of Value of DB_OLD

    e) Paste it on the new created registry "DataBasePath" on the field of value.

    99% the problem must be fixed.

    If you hae Installed MSN Messenger 7.5 you will have to know that this Version of MSN changes some registries.

  5. Nico | November 2, 2005 at 3:28 am | Permalink

    Thanks 4 ur help. Now it’s working perfectly.

    It seems that MSN is the problem’s source

    Nico

  6. JA | November 4, 2005 at 10:04 am | Permalink

    Great JOB!!!

    after modifing back the registry to the previous state it worked.

    i think that the last update of msn messenger version 7.5.0311 caused this change to the registry.

    thank

    JA

  7. DJ | December 8, 2005 at 1:32 pm | Permalink

    Thanks! Worked like a charm.

    Updated TRAMS and only one user could not connect to the database (IB6). Eventually found this answer.

  8. aa | December 19, 2005 at 10:59 am | Permalink

    Thanks guys just installed 7.5 and it screwed up the entry but renewing the Parameters worked.

  9. Claudio Gorini and E.Zamora | December 20, 2005 at 9:55 am | Permalink

    Muchísimas Gracias!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. Oscar Bedoya | December 20, 2005 at 4:10 pm | Permalink

    Muchas Gracias!

    Efectivamente son las actualizaciones del Mesenger!!

    Microdoft Bandidos!

  11. Samuel | January 19, 2006 at 4:41 am | Permalink

    Marvelous…..really amazing that solve the problem that annoy me so long time….

  12. muzza | March 7, 2006 at 6:26 pm | Permalink

    Great thanks. Got me out of a fix with a customer.

    Ps: this age was 2nd on a google search

  13. wise man not you | April 4, 2006 at 12:40 pm | Permalink

    http://bdn.borland.com/article/0,1410,25290,00.html

    you should add gds_db service

  14. Zack | May 6, 2006 at 4:46 am | Permalink

    Had the same error. I’m using a software called TRAMS. I used the solution it it worked very well. (zackbanda@yahoo.com)

  15. Boban | June 20, 2006 at 3:36 am | Permalink

    Great thanks. Work fine with win2003.

  16. excaliverdual@yahoo.com | October 19, 2006 at 8:47 am | Permalink

    im having problem with my msn coz when i open it it errors and the blue color for the background is lost and also it rearranges the search is on the down and the open page is on the up pls help me how to fix it

  17. Sadik Sukusu | November 13, 2006 at 2:46 am | Permalink

    it is work. :))) Thank you.

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