Non-Paged Pool Memory Leak May Occur Attempting to Read Partition Table

ID: Q244509

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Cluster Server
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, Terminal Server Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6

SYMPTOMS

In Windows NT 4.0, a non-paged pool memory leak may occur when functions like IoReadPartitionTable() or DeviceIoControl() attempt to read a partition table. The Microsoft Developer Network explains these functions at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com

CAUSE

This problem occurs because memory allocated when reading the partition table may not be freed in the event that an error, such as STATUS_DEVICE_BUSY, is returned.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT 4.0 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, 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://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

The English version of the Windows NT Server and Windows NT Workstation fix should have the following file attributes or later:


   Date      Time                 Size    File name     Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   10/28/1999  07:10p           1,405,248 Ntkrnlmp.exe  Alpha
   10/28/1999  07:10p           1,376,896 Ntoskrnl.exe  Alpha

   10/28/1999  07:13p             952,192 Ntkrnlmp.exe  i386
   10/28/1999  07:12p             932,032 Ntoskrnl.exe  i386

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00
Version : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug