Stop error message on an Exchange Server 2003 server: "INVALID_PROCESS_ATTACH_ATTEMPT (5)"

On a server that is running Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, you receive a stop error message that resembles the following:

This problem occurs because the operation system crashes. When the Store.exe process or the Inetinfo.exe process is under a heavy load, the Exchange Installable File System (ExIFS) driver causes the process to crash. Additionally, the crashed Store.exe process or the crashed Inetinfo.exe process causes the operating system to crash.

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

You must have Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed to apply this hotfix. For more information about how to obtain the latest service pack for Exchange Server 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

After you apply this hotfix, the following services and drivers must be restarted:

• ExIFS driver
• Microsoft Exchange System Attendant
• IIS Admin Service and all dependent services

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

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.

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

When you apply this hotfix, you will be prompted to refer to article 246216 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. You are prompted to view the article because the ExIFS driver must be unloaded to apply this hotfix. To confirm that the ExIFS driver is successfully reloaded, you can view event ID 9216 in the System log. If the ExIFS driver is not automatically reloaded, refer the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about how to manually reload the ExIFS driver: