Third-party programs that require lots of memory do not run in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (894472)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2
For a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 version of this article, see 912570.

SYMPTOMS

Some third-party programs do not run after you install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). When this symptom occurs, you may receive an error message that is similar to one of the following:
Not Enough Memory
Out of memory
Not enough storage

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the third-party program has to reserve lots of contiguous memory. For example, the problem occurs if the third-party program has to reserve several hundred megabytes of contiguous memory. The new Xpsp2res.dll file that is added in Windows XP SP2 loads into memory at location 0x20000000. This causes the virtual memory that is available to the third-party program to be fragmented.

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

Important This hotfix includes a new Xpsp2res.dll file that dynamically finds a memory location to reduce virtual memory fragmentation. Before you apply this hotfix, we recommend that you ask the vendor of your programs to verify that this solution is acceptable.

This hotfix enables the new Xpsp2res.dll file to find a memory location dynamically and reduce virtual memory fragmentation.

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 XP 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

Windows XP Service Pack 2 must be installed before you install the hotfix.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply the 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 item in Control Panel.
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   13-Apr-2005  00:17  5.1.2600.2653   2,897,920  Xpsp2res.dll


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem does not occur with all programs that reserve lots of contiguous memory.

The Xpsp2res.dll file is also included with some hotfixes that were released for Windows XP Service Pack 1 and after the release of Windows XP SP2 . However, this problem does not occur with the version of the Xpsp2res.dll file that is included with these hotfixes.

For more information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, 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

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/16/2006
Keywords:kbQFE kbHotfixServer kbWinXPpreSP3fix kbWinXPsp2fix kbfix kbbug kbpubtypekc KB894472 kbAudITPRO
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