When you switch your Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based portable computer from AC (utility) power to DC (battery) power, or vice versa, you may receive a Stop error message that is similar to the following: This problem may also occur at other times, depending on how your system was designed.

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This problem may occur on a portable computer that is running an Intel Pentium M (Centrino) mobile processor if the Gv3.sys processor driver is force-installed on Windows XP SP2.

The Gv3.sys processor driver was released to support processor power management features on Intel Pentium M mobile processors that run Windows XP and Windows XP SP1. This driver is now obsolete and is not supported on Windows XP SP2. The Gv3.sys processor driver has been replaced by the Intelppm.sys processor driver. The Gv3.sys processor driver may have been incorrectly force-installed on Windows XP SP2 by an OEM driver utility installation program.

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To resolve this problem, use the following methods to restore your processor driver to the correct driver. The correct driver, Intelppm.sys, was included with Windows XP SP2.

To determine which processor driver is installed, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, click Run, type devmgmt.msc, and then press ENTER.
2.	In Device Manager, expand Processors.
3.	Right-click Intel Pentium M processor, and then click Properties.
4.	Click the Driver tab.
5.	Click Driver Details.

If your Windows XP SP2 system is using the Gv3.sys processor driver, you must update to the Intelppm.sys processor driver to correct this problem. To do this, follow these steps.

1.	Click Start, click Run, type devmgmt.msc, and then press ENTER.
2.	In Device Manager, expand Processors.
3.	Right-click Intel Pentium M processor, and then click Update Driver. The Driver Update Wizard will start.
4.	If you are prompted Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software?, click No, not at this time, and then click Next.
5.	Click Install the software automatically (Recommended), and then click Next.
6.	Click Finish.

You must restart your computer to complete the installation.

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Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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Windows XP processor drivers provide support for processor power management features. Processor power management features include processor performance state technologies and processor idle sleep states. Examples include Intel Enhanced SpeedStep Technology and Intel Deeper Alert Sleep State. These technologies provide greatly increased battery life and cooler operating temperatures on portable computers that are equipped with capable processors.
On systems that are not equipped with mobile processors that can support these features, Windows XP will still load and start a processor driver. However, the processor driver will detect the absence of these features and will not perform any action. This is the expected design behavior.
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

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