Fatal System Error: 0x000000C4 If Deadlock Detection in Driver Verifier Is Turned on and Norton Antivirus Is Installed (325672)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q325672
Important This article contains information that shows you how to help lower security settings or how to turn off security features on a computer. You can make these changes to work around a specific problem. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this workaround in your particular environment. If you implement this workaround, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect your system.

SYMPTOMS

You may receive the following Stop error message on a blue screen:
*** Fatal System Error: 0x000000C4 (0x00001003, 0xF7DE4F50, 0xA0C9AFE0, 0x809F6AE8)

DRIVER_VERIFIER_DETECTED_VIOLATION (c4)
Note The three parameters after 0x00001003 that are listed in the parentheses can vary according to the computer's configuration.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if Norton Antivirus is installed on the computer and the Deadlock Detection feature in Driver Verifier is turned on. This is not a bug in Norton Antivirus. However if other drivers hit this problem, it is probably a bug in that driver and must be fixed. If you only turn off ioverifictation, you hide the deadlock problem which may result in the system deadlocking in the future.

RESOLUTION

Warning This workaround may make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

Note An antivirus program is designed to help protect your computer from viruses. You must not download or open files from sources that you do not trust, visit Web sites that you do not trust, or open e-mail attachments when your antivirus program is disabled.

For additional information about computer viruses, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129972 Computer viruses: description, prevention, and recovery

To resolve this issue, turn off Deadlock Detection in Driver Verifier. To turn off Driver Verifier:
  1. Click Start, click Run, and then type verifier.
  2. After Driver Verifier Manager starts, click Display Existing Settings, and then confirm that Deadlock Detection is turned on.
  3. Click Back.
  4. Click Create Custom Settings, and then click Next.
  5. Click Select Individual settings from a full list, and then click Next.
  6. Click the settings that you want to turn on, make sure the Deadlock Detection check box is not selected, and then click Next.
  7. Click the drivers that you want to verify, and then click Next or Finish if you choose all drivers on your computer.
  8. Restart the computer.
If you cannot log on to the computer after you restart with Driver Verifier turned on, turn off Driver Verifier. To do so, start the computer in Safe mode, log on by using an account that has administrator rights, start Driver Verifier, and then choose to delete the existing settings. After you do so, Driver Verifier is turned off.

Typically, Driver Verifier is used by device driver developers to make sure that their driver passes the hardware quality test. Microsoft recommends that you use this tool with caution.

For additional information about Driver Verifier, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

251233 Things to Consider Before You Enable Driver Verifier Manager on Production Servers

Note Although Q315252 applies to Microsoft Windows 2000, the information that is described in this article applies to Windows XP.

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

For information about how to contact vendor name, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/3/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb kbProd2Web KB325672
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