KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q229351: SP5 Includes an Updated Version of the Streaming SIMD Driver

Article: Q229351
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbtool kbWinNT400sp5fix
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5 (SP5) includes an updated Streaming SIMD
Extensions driver. The Streaming SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple
Data)Extensions driver provides transparent, user-mode support for saving and
restoring the Streaming SIMD Extensions register state in Windows NT 4.0 SP5.
This driver enables programs to use the extended register set required by some
of the Streaming SIMD Extensions. The driver provides support for all Intel
Architecture processor families that support the Streaming SIMD Extensions. The
Streaming SIMD Extensions driver runs on personal computers that are based on
Intel Architecture processors supporting the Streaming SIMD Extensions and run
Windows NT 4.0 SP5.

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

The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver provides error-related information in
Windows NT Event Viewer. This section contains the error message descriptions in
the event log and the details needed to understand the error message and take
corrective action.

Error Message Description
-------------------------

- The driver did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions support as floating point
  emulation is enabled.

  The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver does not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions
  support in the operating system if floating-point emulation has been enabled.
  To turn off floating-point emulation in Windows NT 4.0 SP5, run the "pentnt
  -o" (without the quotation marks) command and then reboot the computer.

- Not all processors in the system support the Streaming SIMD Extensions.

  The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions
  support in the operating system because all processors in the computer do not
  support Streaming SIMD Extensions.

- The driver was unable to allocate memory.

  The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver was unable to allocate required memory
  and did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions support in the operating system.

- The driver failed to register required notify routines.

  The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions
  support in the operating system because it could not register required
  routines.

- The driver failed to hook required handler.

  The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions
  support in the operating system because of an internal error.

For information about obtaining Windows NT 4.0 SP5, please see the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

For information about SIMD, go to:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentiumiii/ntdriver.htm

NOTE: What are Intel Streaming SIMD Extensions?

Streaming SIMD Extensions is a new set of instructions that will be supported by
future Intel processors beginning with the Pentium III processor. Single
Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) extensions significantly accelerate performance
of 3D graphics. Besides 3D graphics improvements, the extensions also include
additional integer and cacheability instructions that improve other aspects of
performance.

Any errors seen on a production server shouldn't be a major problem; simply
DISABLE the INTLFXSR service and reboot.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbenv kbtool kbWinNT400sp5fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : :4.0
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbinfo

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

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.