In Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), a program that uses structured exception handling may stop responding for several seconds. Programs that use structured exception handling include Microsoft SQL Server.

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This problem occurs because Windows Server 2003 SP1 includes a change to the memory manager. This change may make the validation process of exception handling routines take a long time if the following conditions are true:

•	The computer has lots of physical RAM.
•	The process loader lock is held by one thread.
•	Multiple exceptions occur at the same time.

In these conditions, several threads wait for the memory manager, and the program stops responding for several seconds.

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Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is 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 software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if 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. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 installed on the computer.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

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, 32-bit versions

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform	Service pack requirement	Service branch
Ntdll.dll	5.2.3790.605	739,840	23-Oct-2006	15:39	x86	None	RTMQFE
Ntkrnlmp.exe	5.2.3790.605	2,240,512	23-Oct-2006	13:15	Not Applicable	None	RTMQFE
Ntkrnlpa.exe	5.2.3790.605	2,068,992	23-Oct-2006	12:58	x86	None	RTMQFE
Ntkrpamp.exe	5.2.3790.605	2,113,536	23-Oct-2006	12:58	Not Applicable	None	RTMQFE
Ntoskrnl.exe	5.2.3790.605	2,206,720	23-Oct-2006	13:14	x86	None	RTMQFE
Srv.sys	5.2.3790.588	342,016	01-Sep-2006	10:14	x86	None	RTMQFE
Ntdll.dll	5.2.3790.2794	769,024	16-Sep-2006	12:42	x86	SP1	SP1QFE
Ntkrnlmp.exe	5.2.3790.2794	2,459,648	16-Sep-2006	09:35	Not Applicable	SP1	SP1QFE
Ntkrnlpa.exe	5.2.3790.2794	2,271,232	16-Sep-2006	09:00	x86	SP1	SP1QFE
Ntkrpamp.exe	5.2.3790.2794	2,311,680	23-Oct-2006	16:32	Not Applicable	SP1	SP1QFE
Ntoskrnl.exe	5.2.3790.2794	2,419,712	16-Sep-2006	09:34	x86	SP1	SP1QFE

Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform	Service pack requirement	Service branch
Ntdll.dll	5.2.3790.2794	1,253,376	23-Oct-2006	16:26	x64	SP1	SP1QFE
Ntkrnlmp.exe	5.2.3790.2794	4,627,456	23-Oct-2006	16:26	x64	SP1	SP1QFE
Ntoskrnl.exe	5.2.3790.2794	4,482,560	23-Oct-2006	16:26	x64	SP1	SP1QFE
Wntdll.dll	5.2.3790.2794	765,952	23-Oct-2006	16:26	x86	SP1	WOW

Windows Server 2003, Itanium-based versions

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform	Service pack requirement	Service branch
Ntdll.dll	5.2.3790.605	1,525,760	23-Oct-2006	16:21	IA-64	None	RTMQFE
Ntkrnlmp.exe	5.2.3790.605	5,619,712	23-Oct-2006	16:21	IA-64	None	RTMQFE
Srv.sys	5.2.3790.588	994,816	23-Oct-2006	16:21	IA-64	None	RTMQFE
Wntdll.dll	5.2.3790.605	714,752	23-Oct-2006	16:21	x86	None	WOW
Ntdll.dll	5.2.3790.2794	1,636,864	23-Oct-2006	16:26	IA-64	SP1	SP1QFE
Ntkrnlmp.exe	5.2.3790.2794	6,519,296	23-Oct-2006	16:26	IA-64	SP1	SP1QFE
Wntdll.dll	5.2.3790.2794	765,952	23-Oct-2006	16:26	x86	SP1	WOW

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Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

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For more information about the terms that are used in this article, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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