Consider the following scenario:

• You have a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista Service Pack 1.
• The computer has a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express interface.
• You have at least one PCI Express card that does not fully support Active State Power Management (ASPM) inserted.
• You restart the computer.

In this scenario, an internal error may occur during restart. For example, a CPU IERR error may occur. Additionally, the system may stop responding.

This problem occurs approximately one time in every 500 restarts. Therefore, you usually experience this issue only when you are running restart tests. However, the risk of this problem occurring increases significantly if the following conditions are true:

• You apply hotfix 952681 on the computer.
• You insert PCI Express cards that do not fully support ASPM into all available PCI Express slots.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix on a Windows Vista-based computer, you must have Windows Vista Service Pack 1 installed on the computer. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: No prerequisites are required for Windows Server 2008-based computers.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

• The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.
  Collapse this tableExpand this table

  Version	Product	Milestone	Service branch
  6.0.6001.22xxx	Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 SP1	SP1	LDR

• The .manifest files and the .mum files that are installed in each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista" section. These files and their associated .cat (security catalog) files are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The .cat files are signed with a Microsoft digital signature. The attributes of these security files are not listed.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: