Microsoft KB Archive/834628

= Data is corrupted when PAE is enabled on a Windows Server 2003-based computer =

Article ID: 834628

Article Last Modified on 7/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)

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SYMPTOMS
When you run Microsoft SQL Server on a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer, data that is saved to the SQL Server database may be corrupted.

When you view the transaction log file, one or more log entries in the file may be filled with a string of zeros. The string of zeros is exactly one record long and is not cache-aligned.



CAUSE
This problem may occur if you use the Intel Physical Addressing Extension (PAE) specification to support more than 4 gigabytes (GB) of installed memory in your computer. This problem occurs when a Page Table Entry (PTE) is in the process of having its physical address changed, and only the low-order word has been filled in when another processor begins using this page. To prevent a PTE from being used before its complete physical address has been assigned, the hotfix that is described in the &quot;Resolution&quot; section inserts a memory barrier instruction at the end of the PTE address update sequence.

Memory corruption is not specific to SQL Server, and it may occur when you run other memory-intensive programs on a PAE-enabled system that has more than 4 GB of memory installed.

Note This hotfix is only for the x86 platform.



Service pack information
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824721 Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 list of updates

889100 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003

Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now 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 this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or 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. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement
You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix has been replaced by the RTMQFE version (5.2.3790.177) security update MS04-032. For more information about update MS04-032, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-032.mspx

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name 09-Jan-2004 22:23  5.2.3790.118    2,064,384  Ntkrnlpa.exe 09-Jan-2004 22:23  5.2.3790.118    2,108,416  Ntkrpamp.exe 26-Dec-2003 19:52                        271  Branches.inf 12-Jan-2004 18:11                     10,119  Kb834628.cat 12-Jan-2004 18:02                        354  Updatebr.inf 12-Jan-2004 18:02                      6,975  Update_rtmqfe.inf



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, do not use the /PAE switch in the Boot.ini file.

Note When you remove the /PAE switch from the Boot.ini file, your computer cannot use all its available memory.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about Physical Addressing Extensions and Page Table Entry, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

268363 Intel Physical Addressing Extensions (PAE) in Windows 2000

311901 The effects of 4GT tuning on system Page Table Entries

For more information, 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

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbbug kbfix kbqfe kbwinserv2003presp1fix KB834628

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