Microsoft KB Archive/90341

= WFWG Err Msg: Server VM Terminated Abnormally =

Article ID: 90341

Article Last Modified on 10/13/1999

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1

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This article was previously published under Q90341



SYMPTOMS
You may receive the following error message while running MS-DOS-based applications on a Windows for Workgroups server:

The Server VM Terminated Abnormally



CAUSE
This means that the server virtual device driver (VxD) did not terminate the server virtual machine (VM). Instead, Windows terminated the server VM because an illegal instruction was executed inside the server VM. This situation is usually caused by real-mode components, such as network card drivers, real-mode transports, or any other real-mode device drivers.



WORKAROUND
The server is not operational until you restart Windows.



MORE INFORMATION
When you install a device driver or a terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) program (such as a transport or net card driver) before starting Windows, the driver or TSR becomes available to all VMs under 386 enhanced mode Windows. If the device driver or TSR is active inside the server VM and attempts to use a piece of memory that doesn't belong to it, it can start executing invalid instructions.

In such a situation, Windows terminates the server VM and issues the error above. (This error would be a system integrity violation for any non-server VM.)

Additional query words: 3.10

Keywords: KB90341

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