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Q186241: Dr. Watson May Cause CPU Usage to Spike

Article: Q186241
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWinNT400sp4fix kbTSE400preSP7fix
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When Dr. Watson is invoked because of an exception in a user mode application,
CPU usage spikes, and may reach 100 percent. If this occurs on a multiprocessor
system, one or all of the CPUs may exhibit this behavior. The results can vary
depending on the application and its interaction with Windows NT.

RESOLUTION
==========

Windows NT 4.0
--------------

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0. 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

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
----------------------------------------------

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to
systems experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional
testing at a later time, to further ensure product quality. Therefore, if you
are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait
for the next Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition service pack that
contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services
to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services
phone numbers and information about support costs, please go to the following
address on the World Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may
be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional
support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in
question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

  Date        Time    Size    File name     Platform
  --------------------------------------------------
  05/16/2000  06:29p  91,920  drwtsn32.exe  Alpha
  05/16/2000  06:44p  65,808  drwtsn32.exe  x86



STATUS
======

Windows NT 4.0
--------------

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0. This problem was
first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
----------------------------------------------

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal
Server Edition.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Dr. Watson (Drwtsn32.exe) is the default debugger for Microsoft Windows NT. It
is used to generate user-mode diagnostic files for purposes of troubleshooting
application exceptions and access violations. Please see the online help for
Drwtsn32.exe for more details.


Additional query words: access violation slow performance drwatson drwtsn32

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbWinNT400sp4fix kbTSE400preSP7fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : winnt:4.0
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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