Microsoft KB Archive/132694

= Windows NT May Hang With DEC Pathworks Installed =

Article ID: 132694

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51

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This article was previously published under Q132694



SYMPTOMS
Windows NT servers with two or more CPUs and DEC Pathworks for Windows NT, versions 4.1 or 4.1b installed, stop responding (hang). No STOP message appears, and there no hardware or software errors are logged.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because DEC Pathworks for Windows NT acquires and releases spinlocks in reverse order in the NetBIOS over DECNet code. This causes the computer to hang when one CPU tries to acquire a lock still held by another CPU. The following is a simplified description of how this condition occurs:


 * 1) On Processor 0, a DEC Pathworks for Windows NT routine acquires Lock A spinlock, and then, while holding Lock A, tries to acquire Lock B spinlock.
 * 2) On Processor 1, a DEC Pathworks for Windows NT routine acquires Lock B spinlock, and then, while holding Lock B, tries to acquire Lock A spinlock.



STATUS
DEC Pathworks is currently testing a fix for this problem.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 3.50 3.51 prodnt spin lock

Keywords: kb3rdparty kbnetwork KB132694

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