FIX: You may intermittently experience an access violation error when a query is executed in a parallel plan and the execution plan contains either a HASH JOIN operation or a Sort operation in SQL Server 2000

This article describes the following about this hotfix release:

• The issues that are fixed by this hotfix package
• The prerequisites for installing the hotfix package
• Information about whether you must restart the computer after you install the hotfix package
• Information about whether the hotfix package is replaced by any other hotfix package
• Information about whether you must make any registry changes
• The files that are contained in the hotfix package

When you run a query in Microsoft SQL Server 2000, you may intermittently experience an access violation error in the CQList::Remove function.

You experience this problem if the following conditions are true:

• The query is executed in a parallel plan.
• The execution plan of the query contains either a HASH JOIN operation or a Sort operation.

For a list of all publicly released SQL Server 2000 Post-Service Pack hotfixes, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

You must be running SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) together with hotfix build 8.00.1007 or a later SQL Server 2000 service pack to apply this hotfix.

For more information about how to obtain SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart information

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Registry information

You do not have to change the registry.

Hotfix file information

This hotfix contains only those files that are required to correct the issues that this article lists. This hotfix may not contain of all the files that you must have to fully update a product to the latest build.

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

SQL Server 2000, 32-bit x86 versions

SQL Server 2000, 64-bit IA-64 versions

To work around this problem, add indexes or hints to the query to prevent a HASH JOIN operation or a Sort operation in the execution plan. Alternatively, use a MAXDOP 1 hint to cause the query to run serially.

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

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: