"Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message when... https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/help/2379592/object-reference-not-s...

"Object reference not set to

an instance of an object"
error message when you
view the GPO backup
settings in the Group Policy
Management Console
Applies to: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2

Update Available

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

You have a computer that is running Windows 7 or that
is running Windows Server 2008 R2.
You use the Group Policy Management Console
(GPMC) to connect to a Windows Server 2008 R2
domain controller.
Note If you use Windows 7, you must install Remote
Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 to use the
GPMC.
You configure an advanced audit policy setting in a
Group Policy object (GPO).
You back up the GPO.
You perform the following operations in the GPMC:
Right-click Domains, and then click Manage
Backups.
In the Manage Backups dialog box, browse
to the backup location, select the GPO
backup, and then click View Settings.

In this scenario, you receive the following error message:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

This problem also occurs when you use the

IGPMBackup::GenerateReportToFile method.

Cause

This problem occurs because the Group Policy reporting module

does not verify the NULL value of a variable. When you configure
an advanced audit policy setting, the value of a variable in the
GPO is set to NULL. Therefore, a null reference exception occurs

1 of 6 12/10/19, 11:44
"Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message when... https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/help/2379592/object-reference-not-s...

when the variable is accessed.

Resolution

Apply the hotfix on the computer where you run the GPMC from
that encounters this problem.

Hotfix information

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 website:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
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, you must be running one of the following

operating systems:
Windows 7 that has the Remote Server Administration
Tools for Windows 7
Windows Server 2008 R2

Registry information

To use the hotfix in this package, you do not have to make any
changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You may have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

2 of 6 12/10/19, 11:44
"Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message when... https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/help/2379592/object-reference-not-s...

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that
have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The
dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated
Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on
your local computer are displayed in your local time together with
your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the
dates and the times may change when you perform certain
operations on the files.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 file information notes

Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2

hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on
the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems.
To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both
operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows
7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the
"Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating
system that each hotfix applies to.
The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files
(.mum) that are installed for each environment are
listed separately in the "Additional file information for
Windows Server 2008 R2 and for Windows 7" section.
MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security
catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain
the state of the updated components. The security
catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are
signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

File
File name File size Date Time Platform
version
Microsoft
.grouppo 6.1.7600. 11-
1,851,392 07:31 x86
licy.repor 20798 Sep-2010
ting.dll
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows
Server 2008 R2

File
File name File size Date Time Platform
version
Microsoft
.grouppo 6.1.7600. 11-
1,851,392 07:31 x86
licy.repor 20798 Sep-2010
ting.dll

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2

File
File name File size Date Time Platform
version
Microsoft 6.1.7600. 11-
1,851,392 07:31 x86
.grouppo 20798 Sep-2010

3 of 6 12/10/19, 11:44
"Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message when... https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/help/2379592/object-reference-not-s...

licy.repor
ting.dll

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft

products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

More Information

For more information about software update terminology, click

the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used

to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows 7 and for Windows

Server 2008 R2

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

Msil_microsoft.grouppolicy.rep
orting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7
File name
600.20798_none_4a65392f259a
e131.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,860
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 07:49
Platform Not Applicable

File name Update.mum

File version Not Applicable
File size 1,653
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 10:55
Platform Not Applicable

X86_1cc04f4a3a4f4bcf409c094
bdc304903_31bf3856ad364e35
File name
_6.1.7600.20798_none_341f600
346883c5f.manifest

4 of 6 12/10/19, 11:44
"Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message when... https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/help/2379592/object-reference-not-s...

File version Not Applicable

File size 702
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 10:55
Platform Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of

Windows Server 2008 R2

Amd64_1cc04f4a3a4f4bcf409c0
94bdc304903_31bf3856ad364e
File name
35_6.1.7600.20798_none_903df
b86fee5ad95.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 704
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 10:55
Platform Not Applicable

Msil_microsoft.grouppolicy.rep
orting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7
File name
600.20798_none_4a65392f259a
e131.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,860
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 07:49
Platform Not Applicable

File name Update.mum

File version Not Applicable
File size 1,663
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 10:55
Platform Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server

2008 R2

Ia64_1cc04f4a3a4f4bcf409c094
bdc304903_31bf3856ad364e35
File name
_6.1.7600.20798_none_342103f
94686455b.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 703
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 10:55
Platform Not Applicable

5 of 6 12/10/19, 11:44
"Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message when... https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/help/2379592/object-reference-not-s...

Msil_microsoft.grouppolicy.rep
orting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7
File name
600.20798_none_4a65392f259a
e131.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,860
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 07:49
Platform Not Applicable

File name Update.mum

File version Not Applicable
File size 1,460
Date (UTC) 11-Sep-2010
Time (UTC) 10:55
Platform Not Applicable

References

Step by step guide for advanced security audit policies

Obtain Remote Server Administration Tools for
Windows 7
How to back up a GPO by using the Group Policy
Management Console
Description of the IGPMBackup::GenerateReportToFile
method

Last Updated: 19 Sep 2018

What's new Microsoft Store Education Enterprise Developer Company

Surface Pro X Account profile Microsoft in education Microsoft Azure Microsoft Visual Careers
Studio
Surface Pro 7 Download Center Office for students Microsoft Industry About Microsoft
Developer Network
Surface Laptop 3 Returns Office 365 for schools Microsoft partner Company news
resources TechNet
Surface Go Order tracking Investors
Financial services Channel 9
Surface Book 2
Office Dev Center
Windows 10 apps

Office apps

English (Malaysia) Contact us Terms of use Privacy and cookies Trademarks Safety & eco © Microsoft 2019

6 of 6 12/10/19, 11:44