Service Pack 5 Includes an Updated Version of the Streaming SIMD Extensions Driver (229351)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
This article was previously published under Q229351

SUMMARY

Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5 (SP5) includes an updated Streaming SIMD Extensions driver. The Streaming SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data)Extensions driver provides transparent, user-mode support for saving and restoring the Streaming SIMD Extensions register state in Windows NT 4.0 SP5. This driver enables programs to use the extended register set required by some of the Streaming SIMD Extensions. The driver provides support for all Intel Architecture processor families that support the Streaming SIMD Extensions. The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver runs on personal computers that are based on Intel Architecture processors supporting the Streaming SIMD Extensions and run Windows NT 4.0 SP5.

MORE INFORMATION

The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver provides error-related information in Windows NT Event Viewer. This section contains the error message descriptions in the event log and the details needed to understand the error message and take corrective action.

Error Message Description

  • The driver did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions support as floating point emulation is enabled.

    The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver does not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions support in the operating system if floating-point emulation has been enabled. To turn off floating-point emulation in Windows NT 4.0 SP5, run the pentnt -o command and then reboot the computer.
  • Not all processors in the system support the Streaming SIMD Extensions.

    The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions support in the operating system because all processors in the computer do not support Streaming SIMD Extensions.
  • The driver was unable to allocate memory.

    The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver was unable to allocate required memory and did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions support in the operating system.
  • The driver failed to register required notify routines.

    The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions support in the operating system because it could not register required routines.
  • The driver failed to hook required handler.

    The Streaming SIMD Extensions driver did not enable Streaming SIMD Extensions support in the operating system because of an internal error.
For information about obtaining Windows NT 4.0 SP5, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack



For information about SIMD, go to: http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentiumiii/ntdriver.htm

NOTE: What are Intel Streaming SIMD Extensions?

Streaming SIMD Extensions is a new set of instructions that will be supported by future Intel processors beginning with the Pentium III processor. Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) extensions significantly accelerate performance of 3D graphics. Besides 3D graphics improvements, the extensions also include additional integer and cacheability instructions that improve other aspects of performance.

Any errors seen on a production server shouldn't be a major problem; simply DISABLE the INTLFXSR service and reboot.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/8/2002
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB229351
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.