KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q168748: Java Applets Cause IE 3.02 to Stop Responding w/ SP3

Article: Q168748
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.02,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWinNT400sp4fix
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.02 for Windows NT 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SYMPTOMS
========

Internet Explorer version 3.02 may hang when connecting to a Web link that
contains a Java application after you have installed Windows NT version 4.0
Service Pack 3. The application will stop responding only if the Display
Properties Color Palette is set to True Color.

CAUSE
=====

In Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 3 the GetDIBits API does not fill the bit
fields when a BI_RGB (uncompressed) DIB is returned on a True Color (32 bpp)
display. This GDI change was made because the bit fields are not required in
this case. As a side effect, this change may cause a regression in applications
that expect a valid RGB mask on a True Color display.

The Java virtual machine included with Internet Explorer 3.02 calls GetDIBits
when initializing the display palette. The Java virtual machine expects a valid,
signed RGB mask value larger than 0x80h and, if a value less than 0x80h is
received, it doubles the mask value in a tight loop until it is larger than
0x80h. Because Service Pack 3 GetDIBits do not fill the bit fields when a BI_RGB
is returned, applications that evaluate the RGB mask receive an unlikely result
that can be negative (for example, 0xffffffe0h.) When the Java virtual machine
evaluates the RGB mask and receives a negative value, it loops forever and
causes Internet Explorer to stop responding.

It is important to note that the Java virtual machine should be treating the RGB
Mask as an unsigned integer. There are some conditions where an ATI video card
returns a valid RGB Mask value of 0xff000000h causing the Java virtual machine
to loop forever because it is not treating the mask as an unsigned integer. A
separate fix for the Java virtual machine issue with ATI video cards in True
Color will be available in Internet Explorer 4.0. The Java code is licensed from
Sun Microsystems, Inc.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, do not use the True Color palette in Display
Properties.

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,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack


Win32k.sys was modified to return a valid RGB color mask on True Color display
systems.

Java-fix has been superseded by Getadmin-fix. For your convenience, the English
version of this post-SP3 hotfix has been posted to the following Internet
location. However, Microsoft recommends that you install Windows NT 4.0 Service
Pack 4 to correct this problem.

  ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/hotfixes-postSP3/getadmin-fix

You can find the original hotfix at the following Microsoft ftp site:

  ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/hotfixes-postSP3/archive/java-fix

WARNING: If you install the original (archived) version of this hotfix AFTER you
apply the later version, your system may become unusable. Microsoft does not
recommend you install the original hotfix after applying the later version.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be 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.



Additional query words: 4.00 ie 3.02 prodnt

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbWinNT400sp4fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch kbIEsearch kbZNotKeyword2 kbIENT400Search kbZNotKeyword3 kbIE302WinNT400
Version           : :3.02,4.0
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.