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QueryPerformanceCounter behaves improperly when /usepmtimer is used with some Windows HALs

Symptoms

You may experience these symptoms:

QueryPerformanceCounter stays within a 4.7 second range, advancing at the correct rate for ~4.7 seconds, then jumping back 4.7 seconds
Applications may stop responding
You may experience negative ping times

Resolution

Problem

When /usepmtimer is specified in boot.ini for Windows 2003 and Windows XP SMP HALs, QueryPerformanceCounter does not behave properly. Instead of advancing monotonically, it advances correctly for 4.7 seconds, then jumps backward 4.7 seconds, repeating this in a loop endlessly.

Solution

Avoid specifying /usepmtimer in the boot.ini when using Windows 2003 or Windows XP with an SMP HAL.

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KB Article: 1011714
Updated: Aug 14, 2009

Products:
VMware ESX
VMware ESXi
VMware Fusion
VMware Workstation
VMware vCenter Server

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