DUMPCHK.EXE Incorrectly Reports Some Dump Files as Invalid

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

While in the phase where Dumpchk.exe validates all virtual addresses, the program reports that specific memory dump files are corrupt. These same memory dump files are not corrupt and may be debugged without any problems.

CAUSE

Dumpchk.exe does not correctly handle a situation where there are "large pages" in the memory dump file. This leads the program to incorrectly conclude that memory dump files with large pages are corrupt.

RESOLUTION

Obtain the hotfix mentioned below.

MORE INFORMATION

Memory dump files are generated when a system STOP error occurs provided the system has been correctly configured to save debug information through the Control Panel.

These memory dump files can often be used to diagnose the cause of the system STOP error. Because these files are often very large, Dumpchk.exe is often used to determine whether a given dump file was generated successfully or whether it might be corrupt and therefore not useful. The problem described here can result in some files being rejected when they are not corrupt.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K

Keywords          : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 kbfix4.00.sp2 NTSrvWkst kbenv kbtool kbusage kbbuglist kbfixlist
Version           : 4.0
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbservicepack