Microsoft KB Archive/890196

= A memory leak causes Windows XP to become unresponsive =

Article ID: 890196

Article Last Modified on 8/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SYMPTOMS
When you run a program that uses the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service in Microsoft Windows XP, the memory that is used by a remote procedure call (RPC) cache may not be freed, and a memory leak may occur. The RPC cache may grow so large that it causes the program and Windows XP to become unresponsive.



CAUSE
This problem may occur if many expired and unused security contexts are generated every second. (Security contexts are generated by the program that you are running.) The RPC cache is cleaned up at a rate of nine security context entries every 10 seconds. If the security contexts are generated at a faster rate than the cache is cleaned up, the cache grows larger and eventually causes the problem.



RESOLUTION
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

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 tool in Control Panel.   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name --  10-Dec-2004  18:36  5.1.2600.2575     580,096  Rpcrt4.dll



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 additional 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

Keywords: kbwinxpsp2fix kbwinxppresp2fix kbfix kbbug kbhotfixserver kbqfe KB890196

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