Catastrophic bug found in Win7 RTM

[Shamrock]

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=15901

However, Microsoft is now in code-red panic mode as a major bug has been found in Windows 7's RTM build, one which threatens to kill the OS's release party. The RTM build -- 7600.16385 -- thus far only received by a handful, features a reportedly massive memory leak in the unassuming, but frequently used program chkdsk.exe.

When scanning a second hard disk (a non-boot partition or second physical drive) using the "/r" (read and verify all file data) parameter the utility starts to leak memory like its a monsoon and quickly runs up a high enough memory debt that it blue screens and crashes the system, according to some (others merely report a memory usage of around 98 percent within seconds, but without the legendary "blue screen of death").

The bug has been confirmed on many different hardware setups --it's been verified to occur on everything from a Intel Atom-based netbook running the 32-bit version, to a Intel Core 2 Duo notebook running the 64-bit version, and a VMware Workstation 6.5.2 virtual machine running the 32-bit version.

Explorer.exe, which runs the utility does not release the excessively large amounts of memory it gobbles up, compounding the problem.

Microsoft is reportedly trying to avoid claiming responsibility, blaming the problem on chipset driver issues and telling users to upgrade their firmware. Yes, that makes absolutely no sense, considering the bug has been verified to exist in VMware. However, that's the current stance Microsoft is reportedly taking.

[Sazar]

Jason Mick just posted a sensationalist article. I seriously doubt we need to give him any credit because he is just fishing for hits.

The entire title was "Catastrophic Bug Found in Windows 7 RTM Build, Launch May be Delayed" and obviously there was on delay so this is neither catastrophic, nor a showstopper (would have been if the RTM was not released on MSDN).

It's just typical Jason Mick "reporting". Go look up some other articles he has posted where he basically makes stuff up or posts fake "facts" to generate hits. He reflects poorly on the other bloggers on DT.

[Shamrock]

True, but here's more on the subject

http://www.networkworld.com/cgi-bin/mailto/x.cgi?pagetosend=/export/home/httpd/htdocs/news/2009/080509-microsoft-win7-flaw.html&pagename=/news/2009/080509-microsoft-win7-flaw.html&pageurl=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/080509-microsoft-win7-fl

There is a quick fix for it...

Just don't run chkdsk /r LOL

[Sazar]

True, but here's more on the subject

http://www.networkworld.com/cgi-bin/mailto/x.cgi?pagetosend=/export/home/httpd/htdocs/news/2009/080509-microsoft-win7-flaw.html&pagename=/news/2009/080509-microsoft-win7-flaw.html&pageurl=http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/080509-microsoft-win7-fl

There is a quick fix for it...

Just don't run chkdsk /r LOL

There is nothing wrong with chkdsk /r. Just don't expect to run it AND multitask. It will basically take over all your resources while completing.

As is, I personally don't know anyone who has run chkdsk on their systems since the Windows 95 days.

[Q]

There is nothing wrong with chkdsk /r. Just don't expect to run it AND multitask. It will basically take over all your resources while completing.

As is, I personally don't know anyone who has run chkdsk on their systems since the Windows 95 days.

The problem here is that W7 and W2k8R2 share a code base. I'm curious if this bug affects that OS as well. Chkdsk gets run on servers a BIT more than workstations (SMART and RAID monitoring is a bit better, of course). Chkdsk is nice when you want a basic disk scan without having to bring the server down. 95% resource usage would make this difficult.

[Sazar]

Anyone who is using the REPAIR flag of chkdsk while multitasking is a blithering idiot if he/she expects 100% functionality to multi-task while operating said system.

Further, since this is 32-bit app, running in with win2k8 R2 on systems that typically have far more RAM should not be an issue since you would use about 3-3.25GB tops.

You will note that Jason Mick has since updated his sensationalist articles headline and offered sort of a mea-culpa in another blog piece he posted today.

This is a basic mis-understanding of what chkdsk does and how resources are allocated. I guarantee you the vast majority of people who are calling this a catastrophic bug didn't even know about chkdsk still being available in systems today.

Further, you need admin rights so this is not something a fair few people on their systems can simply activate "accidentally" as there are steps to check off before being able to select.

I'm sorry, but this whole "catastrophic bug" thing is a non-issue. I am pretty sure Microsoft will still update the chkdsk app to change it's behavior in response, but the people who knew how to use it (and use it correctly) will be fine.

[LovingSticky]

So, chkdsk is using memory to scan HDDs faster? WTF?!

Have unsubscribed DailyTech's RSS feed after scanning that stupid article..

[Sazar]

So, chkdsk is using memory to scan HDDs faster? WTF?!

Have unsubscribed DailyTech's RSS feed after scanning that stupid article..

chkdsk /r basically is repair mode. Apparently if you are looking to use other applications and use the system while the computer is in repair mode, the guy who raised the "issue" claimed it was "slow".

The microsoft dev team responded saying this was by design so that the chkdsk repair could be performed more quickly.

This will typically affect people who have less than 4GB of system memory, who have admin rights and who have a necessity to run chkdsk.

[seeker]

As is, I personally don't know anyone who has run chkdsk on their systems since the Windows 95 days.
You do now.

[Q]

Anyone who is using the REPAIR flag of chkdsk while multitasking is a blithering idiot if he/she expects 100% functionality to multi-task while operating said system.

Further, since this is 32-bit app, running in with win2k8 R2 on systems that typically have far more RAM should not be an issue since you would use about 3-3.25GB tops.

You will note that Jason Mick has since updated his sensationalist articles headline and offered sort of a mea-culpa in another blog piece he posted today.

This is a basic mis-understanding of what chkdsk does and how resources are allocated. I guarantee you the vast majority of people who are calling this a catastrophic bug didn't even know about chkdsk still being available in systems today.

Further, you need admin rights so this is not something a fair few people on their systems can simply activate "accidentally" as there are steps to check off before being able to select.

I'm sorry, but this whole "catastrophic bug" thing is a non-issue. I am pretty sure Microsoft will still update the chkdsk app to change it's behavior in response, but the people who knew how to use it (and use it correctly) will be fine.

Of course its not a catastrophic bug. Jason Mick is an idiot. I'm just saying there is going to be a small subset of users affected. Maybe.

It is definitely not a W7 show stopper. I can't believe he asserted that the launch could be delayed. L O L

[LovingSticky]

...

No need to explain.

I have no problem with chkdsk utilizing memory to speed up things, but I have a big problem with DailyTech stupid headlines (thus unsubscribed their RSS).

[Sazar]

/me shakes angry fist at shamrock for getting more hits to Mick.

Bad form ol' chap, bad form.

[Riptide]

You do now.
Same. We've had to do it several times on the machines at work when they started having disc issues. Sometimes booting off the xp cd, running recovery console, and doing a chkdsk /r will bring the machine back up so it at least boots and we can pull stuff off it.

[Shamrock]

/me shakes angry fist at shamrock for getting more hits to Mick.

Bad form ol' chap, bad form.

:( :o

[crainger]

Same. We've had to do it several times on the machines at work when they started having disc issues. Sometimes booting off the xp cd, running recovery console, and doing a chkdsk /r will bring the machine back up so it at least boots and we can pull stuff off it.

Yep, saved me from having to reformat a PC plenty of times. Although, I'd never run chkdsk inside Windows anyway. I've always done it from the Recovery Console.

[Buio]

but I have a big problem with DailyTech stupid headlines (thus unsubscribed their RSS).

Indeed, talk about trying to get more hits to their site. Shabby sensationalist reporting style.

I already stopped reading The Inq, I don't even click on Inq links if I can avoid it. Got tired of Charlie's senseless anti-NVidia ranting.

[Bman212121]

chkdsk /r basically is repair mode. Apparently if you are looking to use other applications and use the system while the computer is in repair mode, the guy who raised the "issue" claimed it was "slow".

The microsoft dev team responded saying this was by design so that the chkdsk repair could be performed more quickly.

This will typically affect people who have less than 4GB of system memory, who have admin rights and who have a necessity to run chkdsk.

Well this should only affect using it on a secondary disk like they reported. Unless it has changed if you attempt to run chkdsk /r on your boot partition windows is going to run it on the next startup anyway. So that cuts out an even larger chunk of people.

I'm all for making it run faster when your on startup because you can't use the pc until it actually boots up. This was probably the reasoning for the tweaks.

[crainger]

Indeed, talk about trying to get more hits to their site. Shabby sensationalist reporting style.

I already stopped reading The Inq, I don't even click on Inq links if I can avoid it. Got tired of Charlie's senseless anti-NVidia ranting.

In the days of a million and one tech sites, they need outrageous headlines more and more. Well THEY think they need them.

[Buio]

True and I don't condemn a site for just some of those. Have to be somewhat forgiving for it, because it is fairly common. But when the articles become tiresome to read, like on the The Inq, I took my interest and clicks to some other places instead. Although The Inq is more profiled as a tech gossip site, which I don't feel Dailytech is. Maybe I'm wrong though.