DOCUMENT:Q317372 08-MAY-2002 [winnt] TITLE :You Receive a "STOP 0x00000050" Error Message in Win32k.sys PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::4.0 SP6 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbWinNT400nospFix ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP6, Terminal Server Edition ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== You may receive the following error message on a blue screen in Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition: STOP 0x00000050 (0xa4032000, 0x00000001, 0x00000000, 0xc02900c8) CAUSE ===== This error message occurs if the data value for the AppInit_Dlls value in the following registry key contains more than 32 characters: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows This situation is not handled by Win32k.sys properly and causes the pool to become corrupted. RESOLUTION ========== A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. To resolve this problem, 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://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: Date Time Version Size File name --------------------------------------------------------- 20-Feb-2002 16:12 4.0.1381.33529 170,256 Gdi32.dll 20-Feb-2002 16:12 4.0.1381.33529 332,048 User32.dll 04-Mar-2002 18:27 4.0.1381.33532 1,279,856 Win32k.sys 20-Feb-2002 16:14 4.0.1381.33529 196,368 Winsrv.dll WORKAROUND ========== You can apply the hotfix, or you can use the Ln.exe tool from the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit to create "hard" links with shorter names to the DLLs that are listed in the AppInit_Dlls value. Place the "hard" links in the same folder as the original DLLs. Then, change the AppInit_Dlls value to use your new "hard" links with short names. You can leave the file extension off when you change the AppInit_Dlls value. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbWinNT400nospFix Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbNTTermServ400sp6 kbNTTermServSearch Version : :4.0 SP6 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.