DOCUMENT:Q156492 25-MAR-2002 [win95x] TITLE :GP Fault or Fatal Exception Error on Intel MMX CPU PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product PROD/VER:: OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbhw win95 kbHardwarekbfixlist ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows 95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you are running a program or using a device driver that calls MMX- specific instructions in the retail release of Windows 95 on a system with an Intel processor supporting the MMX instruction set, the following symptoms may occur: - A general protection (GP) fault error message - A fatal exception error message on a blue screen This problem does not occur with Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 or later. CAUSE ===== The retail release of Windows 95 does not properly support some MMX instructions if they are called from a device driver or from program code running in protection level 0 (Ring 0, also known as privileged or Kernel mode). If these instructions are issued while the processor is operating in Ring 0, a GP fault or other serious error may occur. RESOLUTION ========== STATUS ====== This problem no longer occurs in Windows 98. To resolve this problem, install the current version of Windows. For information about the current version of Windows, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows. MORE INFORMATION ================ Additional query words: gpf ====================================================================== Keywords : kbhw win95 kbHardware kbfixlist Technology : kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3 Version : : Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= 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 2002.