Microsoft KB Archive/941695

= FIX: After you enable the Address Windowing Extensions (AWE) feature in SQL Server 2005, access violations may occur, and SQL Server 2005 may stop responding =

Article ID: 941695

Article Last Modified on 10/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition

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Bug #: 50000406 (SQL Hotfix)



Microsoft distributes Microsoft SQL Server 2005 fixes as one downloadable file. Because the fixes are cumulative, each new release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2005 fix release.



SYMPTOMS
After you enable the Address Windowing Extensions (AWE) feature in Microsoft SQL Server 2005, access violations may occur. Additionally, SQL Server 2005 may stop responding.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because of insufficient synchronization between a buffer partition variable and a free buffer list when SQL Server 2005 removes a buffer. When SQL Server 2005 removes the buffer from the free buffer list, SQL Server 2005 locks the free buffer list. Therefore, the buffer partition variable is not updated. When SQL Server 2005 tries to verify the free buffer list, SQL Server 2005 reads the buffer partition variable that contains the incorrect information. Then, SQL Server 2005 tries to remove the buffer. Therefore, an access violation occurs.



RESOLUTION
The fix for this issue was first released in Cumulative Update 4. For more information about how to obtain this cumulative update package for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

941450 Cumulative update package 4 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2

Note Because the builds are cumulative, each new fix release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2005 fix release. Microsoft recommends that you consider applying the most recent fix release that contains this hotfix. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

937137 The SQL Server 2005 builds that were released after SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 was released

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 hotfixes are created for specific SQL Server service packs. You must apply a SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 hotfix to an installation of SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2. By default, any hotfix that is provided in a SQL Server service pack is included in the next SQL Server service pack.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about what files are changed, and for information about any prerequisites to apply the cumulative update package that contains the hotfix that is described in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

941450 Cumulative update package 4 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2

