AR# 4942: kmode_exception_not_handled in file win32k.sys
AR# 4942
kmode_exception_not_handled in file win32k.sys
Description
Keywords: REG_EXPAND_SZ, KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED, blue screen, reboot, install, win32k.sys, login script
Urgency: Hot
General Description:
After installing Xilinx software on a Windows NT system, if the system is on a network and uses a login script, rebooting the system may result in a blue screen and a "win32k.sys" error.
STOP 0x0000001E (0xC0000005, 0xA0036fc2, 0x00000000, 0x00000004) KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED *** address 0xA0036FC2 has base at A0000000 - win32k.sys CPUID: genuinintel 6.3.3 irql: 1F sys ver 0xFX0000565
The only way to bring the system back up is to format the hard drive and reload NT.
Solution
In one case, the Xilinx install removed the REG_EXPAND_SZ qualifier on the path.
The changes to the registry which Xilinx makes do not manifest themselves as a problem until the user is required to reboot the system.
At the time of reboot, a network login script may look for and try to execute system level NT commands. The registry changes made by the Xilinx software create a situation where the network login script is unable to find the NT system level commands. This in turn results in a failure of Intel login scripts which would in turn prevent the system from rebooting when a reboot was needed.
"REG_EXPAND_SZ" is the field type. Xilinx's installation changes it to "REG_SZ".
Solution(s):
1. Manual method available today: Immediately following the installation of the Xilinx software, and before rebooting, please follow the procedure below:
Right Click on "My Computer" Select <Properties> Select the <Environment> Tab Find the "Path" variable in the "System Variables:" box Double Click the Path Variable displayed in the "System Variables" box Click on the data in the "Value:" box at the bottom of the window (Simply clicking on this data will enable the "Set" button at the bottom of the screen) Click on the "Set" button Click "OK"
2. Xilinx plans to address this issue it its install process: A bug has been filed in Xilinx's Change Request system.