Microsoft KB Archive/186241

= Dr. Watson May Cause CPU Usage to Spike =

PSS ID Number: 186241

Article Last Modified on 10/16/2002

-

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0

-



This article was previously published under Q186241



SYMPTOMS
When Dr. Watson is invoked because of an exception in a user mode application, CPU usage spikes, and may reach 100 percent. If this occurs on a multiprocessor system, one or all of the CPUs may exhibit this behavior. The results can vary depending on the application and its interaction with Windows NT.



Windows NT 4.0
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0. 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

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

  Date        Time    Size    File name     Platform --  05/16/2000  06:29p  91,920  drwtsn32.exe  Alpha 05/16/2000 06:44p  65,808  drwtsn32.exe  x86



Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition.



MORE INFORMATION
Dr. Watson (Drwtsn32.exe) is the default debugger for Microsoft Windows NT. It is used to generate user-mode diagnostic files for purposes of troubleshooting application exceptions and access violations. Please see the online help for Drwtsn32.exe for more details.

Additional query words: access violation slow performance drwatson drwtsn32

Keywords: kbbug kbQFE kbTSE400preSP7fix KB186241

Technology: kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNTWsearch

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.