FIX: A deadlock occurs when the scheduled SQL Server Agent job that you add or that you update is running in SQL Server 2000

This article describes the following about this hotfix release:

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

Consider the following scenario. In Microsoft SQL Server 2000, you add a SQL Server Agent job, or you update a SQL Server Agent job. At the same time, another connection tries to delete a SQL Server Agent job. In this scenario, a deadlock occurs when the scheduled SQL Server Agent job that you add or that you update is running.

If you troubleshoot the deadlock by enabling trace flag 1204, you notice that the following error message is logged in the SQL Server error log file:

This problem occurs because SQL Server Agent does not schedule the SQL Server Agent job to run in the job cache. When SQL Server Agent runs the scheduled SQL Server Agent job, SQL Server Agent uses the sp_sqlagent_refresh_job stored procedure to update the job cache. If another connection tries to delete a SQL Server Agent job, a deadlock occurs.

Hotfix information

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

• Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4)
  
  For more information about how to obtain SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  290211  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290211/ ) How to obtain the latest SQL Server 2000 service pack

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 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.

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

For more information about the naming schema for SQL Server updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about trace flag 1204, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site: