STOP 0x0000000A May Occur on Multi-processor Computers

 Last reviewed: February 24, 1998
Article ID: Q137002
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to use Windows NT Backup (NTBACKUP.EXE) to back up mirrored (fault tolerant) Windows NT file system (NTFS) drives on a multi- processor computer, the following STOP error message may appear: 

   STOP: 0x0000000A
   IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

CAUSE

The Windows NT Kernel has a small window for error where two CPUs can access the same memory at the same time and perform out of sequence processing.

NOTE: It is acceptable for two CPUs to access memory at the same time as long as proper locking mechanisms are in place. This locking does not occur correctly in the problem detailed above.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, apply the fix mentioned below.

NOTE: This fix affects the Windows NT Kernel. The kernel file has two different versions - Single processor and Multi-processor. The installation files are named NTOSKRNL.EXE and NTKRNLMP.EXE respectively. However, the file must be named NTOSKRNL.EXE before being installed. Therefore, when you install a new kernel on a multi-processor system, you must rename NTKRNLMP.EXE to NTOSKRNL.EXE in the %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32 directory.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem with Windows NT version 3.51. This problem was corrected in the lastest US Service Pack for Windows NT version 3.51. For information on obtaining this update, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces): 

  SERVPACK

KBCategory: kbnetwork kbbug3.51
KBSubcategory: ntutil ntfault
Additional reference words: prodnt 3.51 trap 0x0A 0xA tolerance ft

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Last reviewed: February 24, 1998
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