Microsoft KB Archive/289166

= Race Condition Occurs and Autochk.exe Stops Responding During Restart =

Article ID: 289166

Article Last Modified on 1/31/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1

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This article was previously published under Q289166



SYMPTOMS
While Autochk.exe is running during a restart, a race condition may occur and cause Autochk.exe to stop responding. Because the computer does not restart, Autochk.exe does not complete the tasks on the NTFS system volume. This is more likely to occur on multiprocessor systems.



CAUSE
This behavior can occur because the internal variable that keeps track of how much memory remains is not protected against race condition.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack



WORKAROUND
To work around this issue, use one of the following options:


 * Skip the Autochk process:


 * Restart the system, and then press F8 at the boot menu.
 * On the Advanced Options menu, select Last known good configuration to bypass the scheduled Chkdsk operation (Autochk) and allow you to return to the system.
 * If Autochk is scheduled to run against a volume when the computer restarts, at the appropriate point during the restart you can bypass Autochk by pressing any key. Autochk does not run against that volume and also removes the relevant registry entry so Autochk does not run against that volume in the future.
 * If skipping the Autochk process is undesirable, run the Recovery console:


 * Start the computer by using the Windows 2000 Setup disks, or if your computer supports starting from a CD-ROM, start the computer by using the Windows 2000 CD-ROM.
 * At the &quot;Welcome to Setup&quot; screen, press R to repair, and then press C to start the Recovery console.
 * After you log on to your computer in the Recovery console, type Chkdsk /P, and then press ENTER.
 * After the process finishes, type Exit, and then press ENTER to restart the computer.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 2.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about the Autochk tool, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

218461 Enhanced Chkdsk, Autochk, and Chkntfs Tools in Windows 2000

For additional information about how to use the Recovery console, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

229716 Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console

Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbfilesystems kbwin2000presp2fix KB289166

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