Article ID: 176211
Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q176211
SYMPTOMS
A series of MS-DOS-based console applications may take a long time
(perhaps several minutes) to complete on a multiprocessor computer. The
console windows may remain blank and appear to stop responding (hang). All
the applications do eventually finish, but this may take an unusual amount
of time.
The same series of applications will finish in a few seconds on a single
processor computer.
CAUSE
A console handle table lock is being held too long during the freeing of a
console. Processing for other console-related activities is delayed while
the lock is held.
The problem is not usually seen on single processor computers as a context
switch to another console process is unlikely during console cleanup. On a
multiprocessor computer, however, multiple console-mode processes may be
executing simultaneously, which greatly increases the chance of
encountering this problem.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. 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
This fix modifies console handling so that the handle table lock is
released during noncritical sections of console cleanup. This allows other
simultaneously executing console processes to continue and finish in a
reasonable time frame.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.
MORE INFORMATION
All MS-DOS console-mode applications are affected by this problem on
multiprocessor computers under Windows NT 4.0. Windows applications are not
affected.
This problem has been seen when attempting to start multiple PERL scripts
as CGI applications run in console-mode on multiprocessor intranet web
servers.
Additional query words: wedge msdos dos box cmd command multi-processor Ntvdm vdm mp
Keywords: kbhotfixserver kbqfe kb3rdparty kbbug kbfix KB176211