Microsoft: Windows Server 2025 changes causing app crashes

Windows Server 2025 introduced memory management changes that affect applications relying on Address Windowing Extensions (AWE), which allow use of more than 4GB physical memory in a 32-bit virtual address space. Applications such as SQL Server using LPIM policy experience access violations (0xC0000005), memory corruption, and crashes. The issue manifests as database maintenance failures, crash dumps, and service restarts. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and provided a temporary workaround by disabling LPIM for the SQL Server service account. A permanent fix is pending in a future Windows update.

Applications using AWE, especially SQL Server with LPIM enabled, may experience crashes, memory corruption, and service interruptions on Windows Server 2025. This can disrupt database operations and cause unexpected downtime. The performance of SQL Server may degrade if the LPIM policy is disabled as a workaround.

Microsoft recommends disabling the Lock Pages in Memory (LPIM) policy for the SQL Server service account as a temporary workaround, understanding that this may affect performance. For other affected applications, disabling AWE usage is advised if possible. Microsoft is actively working on a permanent fix to be released in a future Windows update. Administrators should monitor official Microsoft communications for updates and apply the fix once available.