DOCUMENT:Q194749 20-MAY-2002 [winnt] TITLE :SP4 Periodic Disk Access Interferes with Power Management PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 SP4 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbWinNT400sp5fix ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 SP4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 4 (SP4) systems access the hard disk approximately every five minutes. This access interferes with Power Management. For example, if your hard disk spins-down after a few minutes of inactivity, the hard disk will spin-up every five minutes. CAUSE ===== The Event Log service in Service Pack 4 maintains a time stamp on the hard disk. This time stamp is used to approximate system shutdown time whenever Windows NT is not properly shut down. By default, the time stamp is updated every five minutes. This feature was intended to operate only on Windows NT Server systems. Unfortunately, it is also enabled by default on Windows NT Workstation systems. RESOLUTION ========== To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to: - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/servicepacks/ -or- - Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. 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 STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5. MORE INFORMATION ================ This hotfix adds the following to the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability with the following value: Value Name: TimeStampInterval Data Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0 Additional query words: 4.00 sp4 disk access writes ====================================================================== Keywords : kbWinNT400sp5fix Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400search Version : winnt:4.0 SP4 Hardware : ALPHA x86 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.