A Windows Server 2003-based computer crashes and then generates the following error message: "STOP: 0x0000008E"

On a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer, you experience the following symptoms:

• The computer crashes and then automatically restarts.
• After you log back on, you receive the following error message:
  Microsoft Windows
  The system has recovered from a serious error.
  A log of this error has been created.
  Please tell Microsoft about this problem.
  We have created an error report that you can send to help us improve Microsoft Windows. We will treat this report as confidential and anonymous.
  To see what data this error report contains, click here.
  If you want to see the data that the error report contains, click the click here link at the bottom of the message box. You then see error signature information. This information will be similar to the following:

  BCCode : 0000008E BCP1 : c0000005 BCP2 : bf8154d7 BCP3 : b78419a0 
  BCP4 : 00000000 OSVer : 5_2_3790 SP : 0_0 Product : 284

• You receive the following Stop error message on a blue screen:
  A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer...
  Technical information:
  
  *** STOP: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005, 0xbf8154d7, 0xb78419a0, 0x00000000)
  KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
• When you view the System log in Event Viewer, you notice event ID 1003. This event contains information that is similar to the following:
  
  Date: date
  Source: System
  Error Time: time
  Category: (102)
  Type: Error
  Event ID: 1003
  Description: Error code 0000008E, parameter1 c0000005, parameter2 bf8154d7, parameter3 b78419a0, parameter4 00000000. For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://support.microsoft.com. Data: 0000: 53 79 73 74 65 6d 20 45 System E 0008: 72 72 6f 72 20 20 45 72 rror Er 0010: 72 6f 72 20 63 6f 64 65 ror code 0018: 20 30 30 30 30 30 30 35 000008E 0020: 30 20 20 50 61 72 61 6d 0 Param 0028: 65 74 65 72 73 20 66 66 eters ff 0030: 66 66 66 66 64 31 2c

Notes

• The symptoms of a Stop error vary, depending on your computer's system failure options. For more information about how to configure system failure options, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  307973 How to configure system failure and recovery options in Windows
• The four parameters in the parentheses of the Stop error technical information vary, depending on the computer's configuration.

This is caused by a problem in the Win32k.sys file.

Note Not all "Stop 0x0000008E" errors are caused by the problem that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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 this specific problem. 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

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must 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 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.

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit versions

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit versions with Service Pack 1

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit x64-based versions with Service Pack 1

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit Itanium-based versions with Service Pack 1

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

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