Microsoft KB Archive/223275

= Computer Stops or Hangs Due to Large System Environment Variable Values =

Article ID: 223275

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4

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This article was previously published under Q223275



SYMPTOMS
After adding an environment variable that contains a large number of bytes, the computer will not restart.



CAUSE
Certain process start up code for system processes (CSRSS, Autochk) were only allowing 512 bytes of space for system variables, which caused memory to be overwritten.



Windows NT Server or Workstation 4.0
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:


 * http://www.microsoft.com/windows/servicepacks/ -or-


 * 152734 how to obtain the latest windows nt 4.0 service pack

For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://support.microsoft.com/directory/overview.asp

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack



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 NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6.



MORE INFORMATION
The new files in this hotfix increase the number of bytes to 4,000. Users should keep the total system environment variable size to 4,000 characters. This size also included the variable name.

Additional query words: 4.00

Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbqfe kbhotfixserver KB223275

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