Gene and Intel Investors - CNET Discusses AMD K6-2 Crash Bug
"The flaw occurs when Windows 95 is run on
350-MHz K6-2 processors, 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. "
This CRASH is referred to as a MINOR FLAW.
Paul
{===========================}
news.com
AMD fixes obscure K6-2
flaw
By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
September 28, 1998, 4:00 p.m. PT
update A relatively obscure but annoying
glitch 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
350-MHz K6-2 processors, 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. As a result, few
systems are affected, said Michael Steel, an
AMD product manager.
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 incident, 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. |
