OpenGL hardware acceleration is unavailable for Windows on Windows 64 in the 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2003 (835563)

SYMPTOMS

OpenGL hardware acceleration is unavailable when you run 32-bit programs in Windows on Windows 64 on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Edition, or Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition.

To determine whether you can use OpenGL hardware acceleration, use the DescribePixelFormat function. Examine the pixelformatdescriptor data structure that the function returns. If the PFD_GENERIC_ACCELERATED flag is clear and if the PFD_GENERIC_FORMAT flag is set, Windows on Windows 64 will use software emulation to emulate hardware acceleration.

For more information about the DescribePixelFormat function, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/opengl/ntopnglo_47eb.asp

CAUSE

This problem occurs because OpenGL hardware acceleration is not implemented for Windows on Windows 64 in Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition, or in Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition.

Microsoft Windows on Windows 64 is a 32-bit Windows subsystem that allows you to run 32-bit programs on 64-bit versions of Windows. The current implementation of Windows on Windows 64 uses software emulation to emulate OpenGL acceleration. This process affects how 32-bit programs run, and performance may not meet your expectations. Additionally, you may experience unexpected behavior when you run 32-bit programs on 64-bit versions of Windows.

RESOLUTION

Hotfix Information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version         Size     File name      Platform
   --------------------------------------------------------------------
   04-Feb-2004  22:04  5.2.3790.125    380,928  Glu32.dll      IA-64
   04-Feb-2004  22:04  5.2.3790.125     27,136  Mcd32.dll      IA-64
   04-Feb-2004  22:04  5.2.3790.125  2,027,520  Opengl32.dll   IA-64
   04-Feb-2004  22:08  5.2.3790.125    118,272  Wglu32.dll     x86
   04-Feb-2004  22:08  5.2.3790.125     11,264  Wmcd32.dll     x86
   04-Feb-2004  22:08  5.2.3790.125    685,056  Wopengl32.dll  x86