AMD fixes obscure Win95 on K6-2 flaw at >=350 MHz. Patch developed by MSFT
By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
September 28, 1998, 1:35 p.m. PT
A relatively obscure, but annoying, bug has been
discovered in the fastest versions of the K6-2
processor from Advanced Micro Devices, but the
company and Microsoft have taken steps to
eradicate it.
The flaw occurs when Windows 95 is run on K6-2
processors running at 350 MHz, according to
AMD. Essentially, when a user attempts to boot
up, the computer replies that a "Windows
Protection" error has occurred and that the
computer must be rebooted. Typically, the flaw
does not repeat itself on the reboot.
The flaw only manifests
itself intermittently and
comes as a result of a
mismatch between
processor frequency and
the software timing loop.
The bug is not an
inherent flaw to the
processor.
"Basically, the speed of
the processor was too fast," said a spokesperson at
AMD.
The flaw does not appear on computers running
Windows 98 or Windows NT, the spokesperson
added. Major domestic computer vendors are
bundling their AMD systems with Windows 98.
Computers affected by the flaw are generally from
overseas vendors or regional dealers. The flaw can
also affect consumers who build their own systems.
The 350-MHz K6-2 was released in late August.
Regional vendors often give consumers a choice of
Microsoft operating systems, according to
computer dealers. Taiwanese vendors are also
continuing to offer Windows 95 on a variety of
systems.
A patch for the bug
developed by Microsoft
was posted late last
week. To get the patch,
users are told to contact
Microsoft's support lines
and request the "hotfix
for Windows 95." The call is free but customers
will be charged $35 for the support, according to
an update on AMD's Web site. More on fixing the
flaw can be found at a bulletin on AMD's Web site.
AMD has known about the flaw since the release
of the 350-MHz K6-2, and has been working on a
patch since then. Typically, AMD does not post
information on processor flaws until a fix is found,
said sources.
Later this year, 380 MHz and 400 MHz versions
of the AMD chip are due. |
