Microsoft KB Archive/941439

= The W3wp.exe process uses almost 100 percent of CPU resources when you synchronize large e-mail messages in Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2 =

Article ID: 941439

Article Last Modified on 11/15/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition

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SYMPTOMS
You use Exchange ActiveSync to synchronize with a mailbox on a server that is running Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2). If the Exchange 2003 SP2 server contains e-mail messages that are larger than 10 MB, the Exchange ActiveSync W3wp.exe process uses almost 100 percent of CPU resource for a long time on the Exchange 2003 SP2 server.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because Exchange 2003 must allocate memory to process the message in 4-KB increments. Therefore, it can take thousands of allocations to handle a large message. This behavior consumes lots of CPU resources.



Hotfix information
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 Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 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

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Exchange 2003 SP2 installed.

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix. However, the IIS Admin Service and all dependent services are when you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information
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 item in Control Panel.

After you apply this hotfix, you may set the MaxAllocationIncrement registry value to control the increment value. The allocation will start with a 4-KB increment and then double with every increment until the maximum allowed increment value is reached. You can increase the maximum allowed increment value with each increment until the increment value reaches the size that you need.

Note The MaxAllocationIncrement registry value is located under the following registry key:



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 more information about software update terminology, 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

For more information about the naming schema for Exchange Server software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

817903 New naming schema for Exchange Server software update packages

Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe KB941439

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