Fatal Exception Error Using DHCP

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you use Winipcfg.exe to release or renew IP addresses obtained using DHCP, or when you start Windows 95 with the network adapter configured to obtain IP addresses using DHCP, you may receive an error message similar to the following message on a blue screen:

   Fatal exception 0E at 0028:C433442B in VXD octk16.sys (01) + 0000342B.
   This was called from 0028:C003C47C in VXD NDIS (01) + 00000D7C. It may
   be possible to continue normally.

CAUSE

When you are using the Windows 95 DHCP client, a buffer in memory used to send a DHCP message may be freed before the message has been completely sent. The error occurs when the network adapter driver attempts to access this buffer to send the information on the wire.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 95. A fix to this problem is in development, but has not been regression tested and may be destabilizing in production environments. Microsoft does not recommend implementing this fix at this time. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information on the availability of this fix.

MORE INFORMATION

The fatal exception error typically occurs in the MAC driver, although it may also occur in NDIS itself.

This symptom may occur more frequently with Token Ring adapters using locally administered addresses (LAAs), although it has been reported to occur with Ethernet adapters and without using LAAs.