DOCUMENT:Q195541 10-NOV-1998 [winnt] TITLE :Large Number of Mounts/Dismounts on NTFS Causes Memory Leak PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:WinNT:4.0 OPER/SYS:winnt KEYWORDS:kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 ====================================================================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== A system may leak nonpageable memory when a large amount of mounts and dismounts are done on an NTFS partition. CAUSE ===== The driver Ntfs.sys does not keep track of a VPB structure if a dismount request is followed by an unlock request. The memory leak is small, so the problem will usually appear after a period of days. POOLMON can be used to check this problem. Look for the NtfV tag taking up a lot of the nonpageable memory. Performance Monitor can also be used to monitor nonpageable memory use. RESOLUTION ========== A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT service pack that contains this fix. To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web: http://support.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/default.asp The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: Date Time Size File Name Platform ------------------------------------------------------------- 11/05/98 05:46p 262,512 Ntfs.sys (x86) 11/05/98 05:46p 558,576 Ntfs.sys (Alpha) NOTE: If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, a fee may be charged. This fee is refundable if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested. However, this fee is non-refundable if you request additional technical support. For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: ARTICLE-ID: Q154871 TITLE : Determining If Your Product Is Eligible for No-Charge Technical Support STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. Additional query words: 4.00 ====================================================================== Keywords : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 Version : WinNT:4.0 Platform : winnt Hardware : ALPHA x86 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.