Windows crashes every 49.7 days !!!!

Baski · 08-09-2006, 03:37 PM

IS THIS TRUE???

Here is a bit of information, which may surprise you all. Windows crashes automatically if you don't switch off the machine for 49.7 Days. Do you know why? Here is what I got.....

In Windows the Virtual Machine Manager (here after referred as VMM) is responsible for creation, execution, monitoring and termination of virtual machines. This VMM, which is a 32 bit, protected mode operating system entity, provides a number of system services at chip level. One of these services is "Get_System_Time". This particular service loads the EAX register with the time in milliseconds since Windows started on that machine. This service is accurate to 1 ms. EAX is a 32 bit register in Intel 386 Processor onwards.

So the maximum number of milliseconds it can hold is
(232)-1 = 4294967295 milliseconds = 4294967.295 seconds = 71582.79 minutes = 1193 hours = 49.7 days.
So after 49.7 days the EAX resets to zero. Most of the Drivers use this Time Service to keep track of the Timeout of various services they provide. So after 49.7 days the drivers cannot use the Get_System_Time function of VMM and they crash taking the OS along with.

Can someone throw more light on this ...?????

Will.Spencer · 08-09-2006, 10:44 PM

This was true for early releases of Windows 95, but has not been true since then.

Baski · 08-10-2006, 08:19 AM

But do we have any fix for that ...!!! :p

Will.Spencer · 08-10-2006, 01:20 PM

I'm surprised, I thought this was fixed long before Windows 98. :eek:

This problem was discovered in 1999 and, I believe, fixed with Service Packs.

The best fix, as with most Windows bugs, is to upgrade so that you can have the latest and greatest bugs.

Baski · 08-10-2006, 02:52 PM

Got to be some other better way !!!....

Will.Spencer · 08-10-2006, 05:35 PM

Well, you shouldn't absolutely have to upgrade -- you should be able to install one of the Windows 98 service packs.

But you'll be happier if you upgrade to Windows XP.

dhruvd · 08-11-2006, 11:27 PM

Are people still using windows 98 ?
Can some one tell me approx. how many % of computer user have 98 installed.
I know it sounds a bit crap .... but still .approx percent. May be according to you as an individual ( To all members :P )

Will.Spencer · 08-12-2006, 01:43 AM

Here are some stats straight from the web browsers.

For The Tech FAQ:

Windows XP - 79.4%
Windows 2000 - 8.6%
Windows 98 - 2.9%
Mac OS X - 2.2%
Linux - 2.1%
Windows 2003 - 1.3%

For a non-IT related site which I operate:

Windows XP - 85.7%
Windows 2000 - 5.5%
Windows 98 - 2.2%
Mac OS X - 2.6%
Windows ME - 0.8%
Linux - 0.7%
Windows 2003 - 0.3%

dhruvd · 08-12-2006, 08:01 PM

Thanx for the info ..
So XP rules ! Windows 98 is really very less as compared to 98 !

Regards

Fry · 08-13-2006, 11:17 PM

No one uses 95 anymore.. or 98.. or ME.. and if they do well they need a good kick in the head:p
Really, there is no reason NOT to use XP.. and Im looking forward to Vista!

dhruvd · 08-13-2006, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fry

No one uses 95 anymore.. or 98.. or ME.. and if they do well they need a good kick in the head:p
Really, there is no reason NOT to use XP.. and Im looking forward to Vista!

Same here !
But have a look at the specs ...... there are still some cool people using 98 and 95 ! lolz

Cheers

Fry · 08-13-2006, 11:43 PM

Crazy stuff.. but how accurate is it?
And I bet most if not all of those are in business/corporate environments where the company is too cheap to upgrade!

Will.Spencer · 08-14-2006, 02:00 AM

It's accurate, unless people have modified their web browsers to send bogus information.

Fry · 08-17-2006, 10:14 PM

Just looking at Win95 gives me chills and a sick feeling in the stomach.. imagine using it! eek...
Well I guess some people just dont know what they're missing..