System Stops Responding During Shutdown and Restart Process

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5

SYMPTOMS

After you install Windows NT version 3.5, your system may stop responding (hang) when you select the Shut Down And Restart option. This behavior does not occur if you select Shut Down. However, when you select Restart in the Shutdown Computer dialog box, the same problem occurs.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the Windows NT version 3.5 Setup program calls the computer BIOS to obtain computer configuration information. On several computers, the BIOS returns invalid information for the number of processors installed on the computer. For example, a multi-processor Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) is installed instead of required uni- processor HAL.

WORKAROUND

A possible workaround for this problem is to reinstall Windows NT version 3.5 and run Custom Setup. Configure the Computer type for Standard PC instead of the one selected by default. This forces the Setup program to install the uni-processor HAL. Reinstalling Windows NT version 3.5 to the same location of the previously installed one will update the HAL without losing any user accounts and important Registry information.

NOTE: If you choose to upgrade to Windows NT version 3.5 instead of performing a complete installation of Windows NT version 3.5, you will not be offered the option of changing the HAL.