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Q294306: Windows NT 4.0 May Hang During Process Shutdown

Article: Q294306
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWinNT400PreSP7Fixkbbuglist kbfixlist
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

A computer that is running Windows NT 4.0 may stop responding (hang) when a
process is terminated. When the hang occurs, the user interface will quickly
degrade until a reboot is required.

CAUSE
=====

Windows NT 4.0 may hang if a process allows a file handle to be inherited by a
child process and the parent process (the original owner of the handle) is shut
down unexpectedly. If the child process has initiated a synchronous read on the
inherited file handle at the same time that the parent process is terminated,
the file handle cannot be destroyed. This causes a deadlock in Object Manager
and eventually results in a hang.

RESOLUTION
==========

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.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the
fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and
information on 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
  -----------------------------------------------------
  04/03/2001  06:13a    953,920  Ntkrnlmp.exe  Intel
  04/03/2001  06:13a    933,568  Ntoskrnl.exe  Intel
  04/03/2001  06:12a  1,401,472  Ntkrnlmp.exe  Alpha
  04/03/2001  06:12a  1,373,312  Ntoskrnl.exe  Alpha

NOTE: Because of file dependencies, this hotfix requires Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Service Pack 6a.



STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are
listed at the beginning of this article.


Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix kbbuglist kbfixlist
Component         : DDK Kernel
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : :4.0
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbfix

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