A memory leak occurs in Windows Server 2003 when you send multiple print jobs to a locally attached printer (883673)

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you install a monolithic printer driver or a printer driver that must load and unload the Spoolss.dll library to process a print job.

For example, when you use a monolithic print driver such as the Ricoh AP4510 PCL6 printer driver to process a print job, the Ricoh AP4510 PCL6 printer driver loads and then unloads the Spools.dll library. Every time spoolss.dll is loaded and then unloaded by the printer driver, a memory leak occurs. When you send multiple print jobs, the memory leaks may accumulate.

Note A monolithic driver is a type of device driver that contains all the instructions that the printer must have to function without having to communicate with the miniport driver subsystem. Monolithic drivers bypass the Windows Server 2003 class drivers. Windows Server 2003 class drivers that typically handle device interaction may not interact with the device correctly, if at all, when monolithic drivers are installed. This behavior may cause you to receive a variety of error messages, or Windows Server 2003 may not detect or communicate with the hardware device.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who want to provide support for a specific hardware device in Windows Server 2003 must create a device driver that can communicate between the hardware device and the Windows Server 2003 class driver for that type of hardware. If a hardware device is listed as being compatible with Windows Server 2003 on the Hardware Compatibility List Web site, you do not have to use a monolithic driver. Instead, contact the OEM for the hardware device, and then obtain an updated driver.

To see the Windows Hardware Compatibility List, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx

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, we recommend 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 telephone 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 must restart the 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 file attributes) 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. Windows Server 2003 x86

   Date         Time   Version       Size     File name    Platform
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   02-Sep-2004  15:56  5.2.3790.207  233,984  Spoolss.dll  x86

Windows Server 2003 IA-64

   Date         Time   Version       Size     File name    Platform
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   02-Sep-2004  15:56  5.2.3790.207  233,984  Spoolss.dll  IA-64

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.