Microsoft Hotfixes Windows 7 Memory Leak

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A recent BSoD problem has appeared involving a memory leak associated with Windows 7's Power Manager.

Consumers using Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 may experience a sudden crash of the operating system for no apparent reason. The system failure is accompanied by the infamous "Blue Screen of Death" containing the "STOP: 0x0000000A" error code. Microsoft was alerted to the problem, and has posted an explanation on the Microsoft support website.

According to the company, the actual error reads "STOP: 0x0000000A (parameter1, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4); IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL." Microsoft added that users will observe that the four parameters in the Stop error message may vary, depending on the configuration of the PC. The Redmond company also stated that not all "STOP: 0x0000000A" error messages are caused by this particular issue.

"This issue occurs because Power Manager opens an Advanced local procedure call (ALPC) port," the company explains. "However, Power Manager closes another port instead of closing the ALPC port. Every time that a power request is made, a memory leak occurs. When the leaked memory usage accumulates to a certain level, the computer crashes."

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 consumers can obtain a hotfix for the problem by heading here.

Kevin Parrish
22 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Vestin
    Little known fact: "0x0000000A" is actually "hammer time" in hex.
    Reply
  • matt87_50
    lol, it closes ANOTHER port?? wouldn't that be a bigger concern?

    does it close the port on another computer? like "its ok dude, I'll save you from a memory leak, I'll take one for the team."
    Reply
  • omoronovo
    matt87_50lol, it closes ANOTHER port?? wouldn't that be a bigger concern?does it close the port on another computer? like "its ok dude, I'll save you from a memory leak, I'll take one for the team."
    It's an ALPC port, are you thinking of regular data ports or something? It would take an exceptionally large amount of time (or an insanely high amount of power requests) for this to show up in standard use, since each ALPC port takes approximately 4KB of memory. Assuming the port never closes, and assuming new ones are opened at (the default) of one every 30 minutes, it would take 6 days straight for 1MB of memory to leak, and it would take almost 40 years (straight) for the system to bluescreen because of it, under normal circumstances.

    I'm not saying this isn't an issue, but is an extreme edge-case scenario really worth making an entire news posting for? It's just another bug fix that would never have shown up in standard testing - I expect this only even manifests itself if you have software installed that polls power status far often than normal is healthy.
    Reply
  • andy5174
    Can I get this hotfix using windows update? Or do I have to download it manually?
    Reply
  • andy5174
    Do I have to download it manually? Can you get it using windows update?
    Reply
  • omoronovo
    andy5174Do I have to download it manually? Can you get it using windows update?
    You can request the hotfix from http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=979444&kbln=en-us.

    This kind of hotfix, as it does not cover a security threat or affects many people, will not be on Windows update, but will instead be rolled into the next Service pack release. You need to request it using the above link, and you can then install the .msu manually.
    Reply
  • andy5174
    I see. Thank you!
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    andy5174Can I get this hotfix using windows update? Or do I have to download it manually?Are you experiencing this problem? Seems kind of rare...
    Reply
  • ossie
    What about the battery leak? Yeah, that's "a feature, not a bug"...
    Reply
  • omoronovo
    ossieWhat about the battery leak? Yeah, that's "a feature, not a bug"...
    The explanation for that seems very reasonable, since Microsoft found no link relating Windows 7 to the actual problems - Far more people are upgrading from XP (which did not have battery warning systems built in) to Windows 7, on laptops they did not perform adequately using Vista.

    People are assuming that because these warnings are only showing up now (as in, yes, a new feature of Windows 7), and didn't on Windows XP, that Windows 7 is the cause of the problems. Instead, it's simply that Windows 7 has the ability to detect these failures by default, whereas Windows XP cannot (without additional software).
    Reply