Multiprocessor Computer Hangs Under Stress Using Halsp.dll
Article ID: 159111
Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q159111
SYMPTOMS
During periods of high processor activity, a multiple processor system
could appear to stop responding. Applications running on one or more of the
available processors stop running.
CAUSE
A race condition existed involving a spinlock for the 8254 Programmable
Interval Timer (PIT). Under some circumstances, this race condition
deadlocks one or more processors on a multiprocessor system. This only
affects multiprocessor computers running the Halsp.dll Hardware Abstraction
Layer (HAL).
RESOLUTION
To correct this problem, install Windows NT 4.00 Service Pack 2.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0.
This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for
Windows NT version 4.00. For information on obtaining the Service Pack,
query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the
spaces):
Additional query words: prodnt hang sp1
Keywords: kbhardware KB159111