Knowledge Base

PRB: Local Reboot (CTRL+ALT+DEL) Doesn't Work Under Win32s

Article ID: 121092

Article Last Modified on 3/15/2004


APPLIES TO


This article was previously published under Q121092

SYMPTOMS

The Windows local reboot feature (CTRL+ALT+DEL) should terminate a hung application. However, if the application is a Win32-based application, using CTRL+ALT+DEL exits Windows.

CAUSE

This is a limitation of Win32s. When the VxD that handles hung applications tries to access the application stack, it uses ss:sp, instead of ss:esp, as if the application were a 16-bit application. This causes the VxD to crash, and when the VxD crashes, the whole system terminates.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words: 1.10 1.20

Keywords: kbenv KB121092