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WinSAT test fails in Windows 7


View products that this article applies to.

Symptoms

Consider the following scenarios:

Scenario 1

  • You have a computer that is running Windows 7.
  • The computer has a processor that has more than 16 megabytes (MB) of L3 cache.
  • You run the Windows Experience Index.
In this scenario, you receive the following error message:

Could not measure system memory performance

Scenario 2

  • You have a computer that is running Windows 7.
  • The computer has a processor that has more than 16 MB of L3 cache.
  • You run the full Windows System Assessment Tests (WinSAT) test or the WinSAT memory-only test (Winsat.exe mem).
In this scenario, the test fails and you receive the following error message:

The buffer size is too large. Max is 32 MB

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Cause

This issue occurs because the hard-coded buffer size limitation is 32 MB. All processors that have an L3 cache size larger than 16 MB will experience this issue when the processors perform a memory test.

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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 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 Web site: 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 Windows 7 or Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

For more information about how to obtain a Windows 7 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

976932 Information about Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Registry information

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

Restart requirement

You do not have to 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 file information note
Important Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 updates are included in the same packages.
  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (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.
    16xxx
    Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2RTMGDR
    6.1.760
    0.
    21xxx
    Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2RTMLDR
    6.1.760
    1.
    17xxx
    Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2SP1GDR
    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, critical issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released fixes.
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows 7" section. 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
Winsat.exe6.1.7600.169263,367,42408-Dec-201105:35x86
Winsat.prxNot Applicable3,92210-Jun-200921:48Not Applicable
Winsat.exe6.1.7600.211053,367,42408-Dec-201105:33x86
Winsat.prxNot Applicable3,92210-Jun-200921:48Not Applicable
Winsat.exe6.1.7601.177383,367,93608-Dec-201105:35x86
Winsat.prxNot Applicable3,92210-Jun-200921:48Not Applicable
Winsat.exe6.1.7601.218753,367,93608-Dec-201106:02x86
Winsat.prxNot Applicable3,92210-Jun-200921:48Not Applicable
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Winsat.exe6.1.7600.169263,957,76008-Dec-201106:21x64
Winsat.prxNot Applicable3,92210-Jun-200921:09Not Applicable
Winsat.exe6.1.7600.211053,957,76008-Dec-201106:24x64
Winsat.prxNot Applicable3,92210-Jun-200921:09Not Applicable
Winsat.exe6.1.7601.177383,958,27208-Dec-201106:32x64
Winsat.prxNot Applicable3,92210-Jun-200921:09Not Applicable
Winsat.exe6.1.7601.218753,958,27208-Dec-201106:11x64
Winsat.prxNot Applicable3,92210-Jun-200921:09Not Applicable

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Workaround

To work around the issue, you can limit the buffer size to 32 MB or less by using the -buffersize switch.

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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 the WinSAT, visit the following Microsoft website: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

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7
File nameUpdate-bf.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size2,268
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameUpdate.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size2,315
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_38ae5b395024ee19734e926090295796_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21875_none_ed936ee44dfdc957.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size715
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_5d43a069d3f3e29b208d98230d604ac8_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16926_none_e64f36425271fa4f.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size715
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_924f9307cdb16c276188e3ad07552722_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.21105_none_503021f35a895096.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size715
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_e30a14c4e91ab9455f149775f3ac779c_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.17738_none_4d60b457932c9b0e.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size715
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_microsoft-windows-w..ystemassessmenttool_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16926_none_7bad3932187bef06.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size13,455
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)06:13
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_microsoft-windows-w..ystemassessmenttool_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.21105_none_7c4b4dad318a70d9.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size13,455
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)06:11
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_microsoft-windows-w..ystemassessmenttool_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.17738_none_7d8ac6e015a8a991.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size13,455
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)06:15
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameX86_microsoft-windows-w..ystemassessmenttool_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21875_none_7de6231d2ee96d1a.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size13,455
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)06:36
PlatformNot Applicable
Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7
File nameAmd64_3d09adb2ec8cba81e9c4050779cbcc32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.21105_none_d285fc0c19c7fd95.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size719
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_43ef71aafe94136dc9423db6d1408347_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16926_none_f0f82550c780597b.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size719
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_71a4f429924659d3348f181841a5ffca_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.17738_none_32c25878fdaa673c.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size719
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_aec5935c9c3325cd8d5c6a570f9178ee_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21875_none_65ee9ec2beb382d3.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size719
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-w..ystemassessmenttool_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16926_none_d7cbd4b5d0d9603c.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size13,459
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)07:03
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-w..ystemassessmenttool_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.21105_none_d869e930e9e7e20f.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size13,459
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)07:02
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-w..ystemassessmenttool_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.17738_none_d9a96263ce061ac7.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size13,459
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)07:13
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-w..ystemassessmenttool_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.21875_none_da04bea0e746de50.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size13,459
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)07:33
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameUpdate-bf.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size2,284
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable
File nameUpdate.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size2,331
Date (UTC)08-Dec-2011
Time (UTC)17:49
PlatformNot Applicable

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Keywords: kb, kbautohotfix, kbqfe, kbhotfixserver, kbfix, kbexpertiseadvanced, kbsubacctcs

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Article Info
Article ID : 2619497
Revision : 1
Created on : 1/7/2017
Published on : 2/1/2012
Exists online : False
Views : 250