DOCUMENT:Q216383 20-MAY-2002 [winnt] TITLE :Memory Allocations May Fail When There Are Large Free Blocks PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbWinNT400sp5fix ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, Terminal Server Edition ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Memory allocations may return "Out of Memory" errors even when there are large free blocks of memory available within the virtual address space of the process. CAUSE ===== Heap allocations within a process may result in the memory manager having to extend the heap using virtual memory to satisfy the request. The memory manager extends the heap by allocating contiguous virtual memory from the process address space. By default, the memory manager requests double the previous successfully allocated heap segment. If it fails allocating virtual memory for a larger heap segment, it does not try to allocate a segment the size of the previous or smaller segments. For example, if the previous successfully allocated heap segment was 64 MB, the heap manager will attempt to extend the heap by 128 MB if it needs to extend the heap. If there is not 128 MB of contiguous virtual memory, the allocation to extend the heap will fail and the heap allocation will subsequently fail even though there may have been another 64-MB free block. 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 Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 5. MORE INFORMATION ================ Ntdll was fixed so that, if Ntdll.dll cannot extend the heap because of an "Out of Memory" error on a first attempt, it divides the requested virtual memory allocation size by 2 and will continue to attempt to extend the heap in this way until the size requested falls below what is needed to satify the heap allocation. Additional query words: 4.00 c0000017 ====================================================================== Keywords : kbWinNT400sp5fix Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTW400sp3 kbWinNTW400sp2 kbWinNTW400sp1 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400sp3 kbWinNTS400sp2 kbWinNTS400sp1 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServ400sp4 kbNTTermServSearch Version : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 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.