Microsoft KB Archive/159111

= Multiprocessor Computer Hangs Under Stress Using Halsp.dll =

Article ID: 159111

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


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

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This article was previously published under Q159111



SYMPTOMS
During periods of high processor activity, a multiple processor system could appear to stop responding. Applications running on one or more of the available processors stop running.



CAUSE
A race condition existed involving a spinlock for the 8254 Programmable Interval Timer (PIT). Under some circumstances, this race condition deadlocks one or more processors on a multiprocessor system. This only affects multiprocessor computers running the Halsp.dll Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL).



RESOLUTION
To correct this problem, install Windows NT 4.00 Service Pack 2.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Windows NT version 4.00. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

Additional query words: prodnt hang sp1

Keywords: kbhardware KB159111

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