DESCRIPTION
CAUTION: This System BIOS upgrade is considered a critical fix and is required to correct the issue detailed below. HP strongly recommends immediate application of required critical fixes. Neglecting to perform the required action could leave the server in an unstable condition, which could potentially result in system lockups or failures, or data corruption or loss. By disregarding this notification, the customer accepts the risk of incurring future related events.
Intel has provided a microcode update to HP as a critical software fix. This Intel microcode update addresses an improper Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) invalidation that may result in unpredictable system behavior such as system hangs or incorrect data. HP is making available a System BIOS upgrade that integrates a new version of this Intel microcode to address this potential but extremely rare issue.
While the occurrence of this issue is extremely rare, HP strongly recommends upgrading the System BIOS to a version dated April 06, 2007 (or later). Intel has indicated that the microcode update has no known measurable performance impact and provides a complete and comprehensive resolution to this issue.
This issue was identified in a synthetic test environment during rigorous quality control testing. To date, HP has not observed this issue in a production environment This issue will be documented in an updated version of the Intel Processor Specification Update for all affected processors.
To access this Intel information, refer to: http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/specupdt/314079.htm (T5000 & T7000)
NOTE: One or more of the links above will take you outside the Hewlett-Packard Web site. HP does not control and is not responsible for information outside of the HP Web site.
IMPORTANT: This condition is NOT specific to HP Compaq Notebook PCs and can affect any Notebook PC that uses Intel Core2 Duo mobile processor T7000 and T5000 sequence processors. It is not restricted to HP systems and can occur on other manufacturers´ Intel-based systems.
While the implications of the issue are difficult to quantify, any of the following symptoms can occur:
- The system may stop responding to keyboard or mouse input.
- A system operating in a Microsoft Windows environment may generate a blue screen.
- A system operating in a Linux environment may generate a kernel panic.
- A system operating in a Novell NetWare environment may ABEND.
RESOLUTION
To prevent the unpredictable system behavior from occurring due to this issue, upgrade the unit with a system BIOS to a version dated April XX, 2007 (or later). System BIOS' dated April XX, 2007 (or later) include the required Intel microcode updates to address this issue. Applying the latest System BIOS ensures that the most current version of Intel microcode is installed in the system.