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The conhost.exe process crashes when an application exits on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2


View products that this article applies to.

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Symptoms

On a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, the conhost.exe process crashes when an application exits. When the issue occurs, the computer might stop responding.

Note The following steps describe the process that leads to the crash:
  1. A grandparent process has console handles.
  2. The grandparent process starts a parent process.
  3. The parent process closes output/error console handles.
  4. The parent process starts at least one child process.
  5. A child process creates new output/error console handles.
  6. This child process closes the new console handles or exits.
  7. Some other child process or the grandparent process tries to use a console handle, and the Conhost.exe process crashes.
  8. A parent process has console handles.
  9. The parent process closes output/error console handle.
  10. The parent process starts more than one child process.
  11. A child process allocates new output/error console handles.
  12. All the child process try to close the allocated console handles.

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Cause

This issue occurs because of a reference-counting problem in the csrss.exe process for console handles. The csrss.exe process that maintains the reference count for console buffers is wrong, and the output buffer is freed prematurely.

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Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem that is described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft website: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running one of the following operating systems: 
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Registry information

To use the hotfix in this package, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The global version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 file information notes
Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.
  • The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.
    VersionProductSR_LevelService branch
    6.1.760
    0.20xxx
    Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2RTMLDR
    6.1.760
    1.21xxx
    Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2SP1LDR
  • GDR service branches contain only those fixes that are widely released to address widespread, very important issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released fixes.
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2 and for Windows 7" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Winsrv.dll6.1.7600.20861168,96018-Dec-201005:31x86
Winsrv.dll6.1.7601.21624169,47218-Dec-201007:57x86
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Winsrv.dll6.1.7600.20861214,01618-Dec-201006:09x64
Winsrv.dll6.1.7601.21624214,01618-Dec-201008:52x64
For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Winsrv.dll6.1.7600.20861338,94418-Dec-201005:19IA-64
Winsrv.dll6.1.7601.21624338,94418-Dec-201009:35IA-64

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Status

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

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More Information

For more information about software update terminology, 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

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7
File nameX86_4023f4cbcba33c3d960ab2f8004ed32f_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_06415fabbade9507.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size694
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameX86_697d010d451d055b462103aab9b09165_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_032e18877caf2603.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size694
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameX86_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_b6f02fd916b9c244.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size7,082
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)05:59
PlatformNot applicable
File nameX86_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_b904cd6d13bd0a71.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size7,082
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)08:33
PlatformNot applicable
Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2
File nameAmd64_297854f7c06aaa192f3b109729f4b3c0_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_98f73838748c3e6a.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size698
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_50459d124607ba49615c6e13202dd916_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_375fd49d264db807.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,038
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_7161b397d647b7e73125b8f433eb0e9a_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_5eb4c1e1801903ee.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,038
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_8282c0949e69c21dbd60bc2762bb28eb_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_f5d2ca9a33ac9252.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size698
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_c3efaf148cd3f8e865e982679b55f7aa_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_efdd0d86ada36771.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size698
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_f694a79084ab5e018a6518ad81536d70_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_96ed0602b3afdb4a.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size698
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_130ecb5ccf17337a.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size7,086
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)06:53
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_152368f0cc1a7ba7.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size7,086
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)09:26
PlatformNot applicable
File nameWow64_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_1d6375af0377f575.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,300
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)05:49
PlatformNot applicable
File nameWow64_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_1f781343007b3da2.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,300
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)08:23
PlatformNot applicable
Additional files for all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
File nameIa64_16348802efb95c0fbb4661615f07d898_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_321d46982bf11ed4.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size696
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameIa64_20da8ab053dd34dd5f70e8b107129644_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_65b93835ef765d94.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size696
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameIa64_297854f7c06aaa192f3b109729f4b3c0_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_3cda40aabc2cd630.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size697
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameIa64_f694a79084ab5e018a6518ad81536d70_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_3ad00e74fb507310.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size697
Date (UTC)20-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)23:38
PlatformNot applicable
File nameIa64_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_b6f1d3cf16b7cb40.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size7,084
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)06:52
PlatformNot applicable
File nameIa64_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_b906716313bb136d.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size7,084
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)09:58
PlatformNot applicable
File nameWow64_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20861_none_1d6375af0377f575.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,300
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)05:49
PlatformNot applicable
File nameWow64_microsoft-windows-winsrv_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21624_none_1f781343007b3da2.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,300
Date (UTC)18-Dec-2010
Time (UTC)08:23
PlatformNot applicable

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Keywords: kb, kbmdd, kbautohotfix, kbqfe, kbhotfixserver, kbfix, kbexpertiseadvanced, kbexpertisebeginner, kbsurveynew

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Article Info
Article ID : 2458000
Revision : 1
Created on : 1/7/2017
Published on : 10/9/2014
Exists online : False
Views : 337