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Knowledge Base

In a domain environment, Windows Explorer may stop responding on a client computer that is running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, and CPU usage is very high on the primary domain controller

Article ID: 925066

Article Last Modified on 12/26/2007

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition (32-Bit x86)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition (32-Bit x86)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition

SYMPTOMS

On a client computer that is running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, you try to access shared files on a Distributed File System (DFS) server in a domain environment. However, Windows Explorer may stop responding in this situation. Additionally, CPU usage is very high on the primary domain controller (PDC). Specifically, the Dfssvc.exe process consumes most of the CPU resources.

Note This issue may occur after the shadow-copy feature is enabled on the DFS server.

CAUSE

This issue may occur because of an error in the Twext.dll file. When this error occurs, the client computer sends many referral requests to the DFS server after you try to access shared files.

RESOLUTION

Windows XP hotfix information

To resolve this problem for Windows XP Service Pack 2, install the hotfix that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

941133 The Properties dialog box of a DFS share takes several minutes to appear on a Windows XP-based client computer

Windows Server 2003 update information

Install this update to resolve the issue in which Windows Explorer stops responding on client computers that are running Windows XP Professional or Windows Server 2003 in a domain environment where CPU usage on the primary domain controller is high.

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB925066) package now.

Download the Update for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition (KB925066) package now.

Download the Update for Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems (KB925066) package now.

Download the Update for Windows XP x64 Edition (KB925066) package now.

Release Date: October 23, 2007

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update does not replace any other updates.

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.

Windows Server 2003, x86-based versions

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform	SP requirement	Service branch
Twext.dll	6.0.3790.2985	82,944	07-Aug-2007	10:16	x86	SP1	SP1QFE
Twext.dll	6.0.3790.4127	84,992	07-Aug-2007	11:08	x86	SP2	SP2QFE

Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform	SP requirement	Service branch
Twext.dll	6.0.3790.2985	112,640	06-Aug-2007	21:17	x64	SP1	SP1QFE
Wtwext.dll	6.0.3790.2985	82,944	06-Aug-2007	21:17	x86	SP1	WOW
Twext.dll	6.0.3790.4127	118,784	06-Aug-2007	21:20	x64	SP2	SP2QFE
Wtwext.dll	6.0.3790.4127	84,992	06-Aug-2007	21:20	x86	SP2	WOW

Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform	SP requirement	Service branch
Twext.dll	6.0.3790.2985	199,168	06-Aug-2007	21:17	IA-64	SP1	SP1QFE
Wtwext.dll	6.0.3790.2985	82,944	06-Aug-2007	21:17	x86	SP1	WOW
Twext.dll	6.0.3790.4127	207,360	06-Aug-2007	21:21	IA-64	SP2	SP2QFE
Wtwext.dll	6.0.3790.4127	84,992	06-Aug-2007	21:21	x86	SP2	WOW

Note After you apply this update on the client computer, the client computer will not send out redundant referral requests to the DFS server.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, disable the shadow-copy feature on the DFS server. To do this, follow these steps:

Right-click the volume on which you want to disable the shadow-copy feature, and then click Properties.
On the Shadow Copies tab, select the volume on which you want to disable the shadow-copy feature, click Disable, and then click OK two times.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

REFERENCES

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

888603 Update to disable Volume Shadow Copy Service restore options on Terminal Server client computers that are running Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP