I was onsite with a new client yesterday where they have a couple of
FileMaker Server 5 installations. I was called in because one of the
databases wouldn't open and after restoring the file from a backup, I
found that the FileMaker Server Console on both machines wasn't
working properly. On one computer, the console would open but I wasn't
able to view the task scheduler to see the backup schedules, clicking
any of the console's buttons didn't do anything. I worked with the IT
person to remove FileMaker Server 5 and reinstall it from the original
disc. After installation, we tried to start the service and received
the error "system specific error 51".

I searched the FM knowledge base and Google for this and there was one
search result to a FMForums thread where someone had the same problem
but didn't post a fix. We tried a second server that had previously
had FileMaker Server 5 installed on with the same results after
removing the remnants of the previous install (some files had been
deleted) and installing from the original disc. We were eventually
successful by installing to a 3rd server that had never had FileMaker
Server installed on it. Is anyone aware of this issue and know how to
fix it?

The second server running FileMaker Server 5 wouldn't even open the
server console. The error when opening it is: MMC could not create the
snap-in. The snap-in might not have been installed correctly. The
FileMaker Server service will start and stop OK on the machine but no
backups will run from the Task Scheduler. The IT person is manually
stopping the service and backing up the files. As there were no other
servers available to install server onto, the IT person was loathe to
remove Server 5 from this computer in case we were unable to reinstall
it. The specifications of this computer are a Dual Xeon Quad Core
running XP64 Service Pack 2 with 16GB RAM. I suspect Server 5 doesn't
like running on a 64-bit OS but the IT person said it's been running
on there for some time, although he didn't know if the console had
ever run OK. Again, does anyone have any ideas as to how to make this
work?

I'm in talks with the company about upgrading all software to v10 so
hopefully this won't be a long-term problem but I want to be able to
help them in the short-term.

Best regards,
--
Damon Casey
Automating Data Ltd.
http://www.automatingdata.co.uk/

FileMaker 9 Certified Developer
FileMaker 8 Certified Developer
FileMaker Business Alliance and TechNet Member

Registered in England no. 4840986
Registered Address: 7 Waterstone Way, Greenhithe, Kent DA9 9TU.

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