Race Condition Occurs and Autochk.exe Stops Responding During Restart (289166)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
This article was previously published under Q289166

SYMPTOMS

While Autochk.exe is running during a restart, a race condition may occur and cause Autochk.exe to stop responding. Because the computer does not restart, Autochk.exe does not complete the tasks on the NTFS system volume. This is more likely to occur on multiprocessor systems.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur because the internal variable that keeps track of how much memory remains is not protected against race condition.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one of the following options:
  • Skip the Autochk process:

    1. Restart the system, and then press F8 at the boot menu.
    2. On the Advanced Options menu, select Last known good configuration to bypass the scheduled Chkdsk operation (Autochk) and allow you to return to the system.
    3. If Autochk is scheduled to run against a volume when the computer restarts, at the appropriate point during the restart you can bypass Autochk by pressing any key. Autochk does not run against that volume and also removes the relevant registry entry so Autochk does not run against that volume in the future.
  • If skipping the Autochk process is undesirable, run the Recovery console:

    1. Start the computer by using the Windows 2000 Setup disks, or if your computer supports starting from a CD-ROM, start the computer by using the Windows 2000 CD-ROM.
    2. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press R to repair, and then press C to start the Recovery console.
    3. After you log on to your computer in the Recovery console, type Chkdsk /P, and then press ENTER.
    4. After the process finishes, type Exit, and then press ENTER to restart the computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 2.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the Autochk tool, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

218461 Enhanced Chkdsk, Autochk, and Chkntfs Tools in Windows 2000


For additional information about how to use the Recovery console, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

229716 Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/19/2003
Keywords:kbbug kbFileSystems kbfix kbWin2000PreSP2Fix w2000fs KB289166
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