Support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) ends on July 12, 2011. To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure you're running Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (SP2). For more information, refer to this Microsoft web page: Support is ending for some versions of Windows.

Symptoms

When users connect in terminal sessions to a Windows Server 2008 terminal server that is under heavy stress because many users are logging on and logging off, the following problems occur:

  • The logon process stops responding after users input user names and passwords. The users never see the desktop.

  • If you query the problematic terminal session information by using the query session /ID:<session ID> command or the Terminal Services Manager utility, you see that the problematic terminal sessions only includes the following processes:

    • Csrss.exe

    • Winlogon.exe

    • Userinit.exe

  • The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service stops on the problematic terminal server.

Cause

The problem occurs because of an issue in the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service.

Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem is that described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem is described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.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, contact 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:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=supportNote 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.Important Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only one of these products may be listed on the “Hotfix Request” page. To request the hotfix package that applies to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, just select the product that is listed on the page.

Prerequisites

You must have Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

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.

Windows Server 2008/Windows Vista SP1 x86

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Dwm.exe

6.0.6001.22371

82,432

07-Feb-2009

06:38

x86

Dwmredir.dll

6.0.6001.22371

81,920

07-Feb-2009

06:41

x86

Microsoft-windows-desktopwindowmanager-core-ppdlic.xrm-ms

Not Applicable

3,685

07-Feb-2009

07:00

Not Applicable

Uxsms.dll

6.0.6001.22371

28,672

07-Feb-2009

06:47

x86

Windows Server 2008 IA64

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Dwm.exe

6.0.6001.22371

225,280

07-Feb-2009

05:52

IA-64

Dwmredir.dll

6.0.6001.22371

231,936

07-Feb-2009

05:56

IA-64

Microsoft-windows-desktopwindowmanager-core-ppdlic.xrm-ms

Not Applicable

3,685

07-Feb-2009

06:02

Not Applicable

Uxsms.dll

6.0.6001.22371

73,216

07-Feb-2009

06:04

IA-64

Windows Server 2008/Windows Vista SP1 x64

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Dwm.exe

6.0.6001.22371

99,328

07-Feb-2009

07:08

x64

Dwmredir.dll

6.0.6001.22371

102,912

07-Feb-2009

07:11

x64

Microsoft-windows-desktopwindowmanager-core-ppdlic.xrm-ms

Not Applicable

3,685

07-Feb-2009

07:35

Not Applicable

Uxsms.dll

6.0.6001.22371

32,768

07-Feb-2009

07:16

x64

Windows Server 2008/Windows Vista SP1 x86 other files

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Package_for_kb966325_client_1~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,367

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_client~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,430

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,425

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_server~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,430

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

X86_microsoft-windows-d..pwindowmanager-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22371_none_8de28581d687723d.manifest

Not Applicable

16,499

07-Feb-2009

07:21

Not Applicable

Windows Server 2008 IA64 other files

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Ia64_microsoft-windows-d..pwindowmanager-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22371_none_8de42977d6857b39.manifest

Not Applicable

16,522

07-Feb-2009

06:43

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,429

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_server~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,434

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Windows Server 2008/Windows Vista SP1 x64 other files

File name

File version

File size

Date

Time

Platform

Amd64_microsoft-windows-d..pwindowmanager-core_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22371_none_ea0121058ee4e373.manifest

Not Applicable

16,547

07-Feb-2009

08:46

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_client_1~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,375

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_client~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,438

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,433

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Package_for_kb966325_server~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum

Not Applicable

1,438

07-Feb-2009

22:12

Not Applicable

Status

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

More Information

Desktop Window Manager Session Manager

The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance services. The service supports the Themes service. The service also determines whether applications are compatible with the new Aero user experience in Windows Vista. If an application is incompatible with Aero, this service causes the application to revert to a classic Windows theme that the application supports.If your computer does not support Aero graphics, computer performance may improve if you disable this service.For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

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