Microsoft KB Archive/942174

= The translucent layers intermittently turn gray when you browse a Web page that contains translucent layers by using Internet Explorer 7 =

Article ID: 942174

Article Last Modified on 11/15/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Server 2003 IA64
 * Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP
 * Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Server 2003
 * Windows Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista

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Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista



SYMPTOMS
You develop a Web page that contains translucent layers. In the Web page, you use the Filter property to adjust the opacity of the translucent layers. When you browse this Web page by using Internet Explorer 7, the translucent layers intermittently turn gray.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because of a race condition in Internet Explorer. This race condition occurs when two threads concurrently call the SelectObject function on the Windows GDI HBITMAP handle.



Hotfix information for Windows Vista
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
To install the hotfix, you must have Internet Explorer 7 installed.

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To use this hotfix, follow these steps:  Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. Locate the following registry subkey, and then click it:

 On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key. Type FEATURE_IMAGING_MULTITHREAD_PROTECTION_WHEN_OPTIMIZED_KB942174, and then press ENTER . Right-click FEATURE_IMAGING_MULTITHREAD_PROTECTION_WHEN_OPTIMIZED_KB942174, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER .</li> Right-click iexplore.exe, and then click Modify.</li> In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.</li> Exit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

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.

Hotfix information for Windows XP
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
To install the hotfix, you must have Internet Explorer 7 and Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed.

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

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To use this hotfix, follow these steps: <ol> Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.</li> Locate the following registry subkey, and then click it:

</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.</li> Type FEATURE_IMAGING_MULTITHREAD_PROTECTION_WHEN_OPTIMIZED_KB942174, and then press ENTER .</li> Right-click FEATURE_IMAGING_MULTITHREAD_PROTECTION_WHEN_OPTIMIZED_KB942174, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER .</li> Right-click iexplore.exe, and then click Modify.</li> In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.</li> Exit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

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.

Hotfix information for Windows Server 2003
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
To install the hotfix, you must have Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 installed.

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

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To use this hotfix, follow these steps: <ol> Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.</li> Locate the following registry subkey, and then click it:

</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.</li> <li>Type FEATURE_IMAGING_MULTITHREAD_PROTECTION_WHEN_OPTIMIZED_KB942174, and then press ENTER .</li> <li>Right-click FEATURE_IMAGING_MULTITHREAD_PROTECTION_WHEN_OPTIMIZED_KB942174, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> <li>Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER .</li> <li>Right-click iexplore.exe, and then click Modify.</li> <li>In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.</li> <li>Exit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

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.

Windows Server 2003 with SP2, IA64-based versions
<div class="status_section">

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

<div class="moreinformation_section">

MORE INFORMATION
In Internet Explorer, two threads work with translucent layers. These threads are the UI thread and the image decoding thread.

The image decoding thread optimizes the image into a single-color PatBlt function. This thread determines the color by calling the SelectObject function on the HBITMAP object.

At the same time, the UI thread draws the image. Also, this thread determines the color by calling the SelectObject function on the HBITMAP object.

However, the HBITMAP object can only be selected in one device context (DC). Therefore, one of the two calls to the SelectObject function fails. If the decoding thread cannot call the SelectObject function, the solid color becomes incorrect. The solid color is used for the PatBlt function to perform future draw operations.

For more information about the Style property, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms532941.aspx

For information about the Filter property, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms532847.aspx

For more information about the SelectObject function, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms533272.aspx

For more information about the PatBlt function, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms532568.aspx

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

Additional query words: grey

Keywords: kbqfe kbpubtypekc kbexpertiseadvanced kbhotfixserver KB942174

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