BSOD 0xF (SPIN_LOCK_ALREADY_OWNED): causes and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: A request for a spin lock has been initiated when the spin lock was already owned.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
ERROR_INVALID_DRIVE	Win32 error	Windows
KERN_INVALID_NAME	Kern return	Mac
ippStsLSFLowAndHigh	Intel Ipp Status	Any
ENOTBLK	errno	Linux
ENOTBLK	errno	Mac
ENOTBLK	errno	Solaris

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NO_USER_MODE_CONTEXT	SPIN_LOCK_NOT_OWNED

SPIN_LOCK_ALREADY_OWNED

The SPIN_LOCK_ALREADY_OWNED bug check has a value of 0x0000000F. This indicates that a request for a spin lock has been initiated when the spin lock was already owned.

SPIN_LOCK_ALREADY_OWNED Parameters

None

Cause

Typically, this error is caused by a recursive request for a spin lock. It can also occur if something similar to a recursive request for a spin lock has been initiated--for example, when a spin lock has been acquired by a thread, and then that same thread calls a function, which also tries to acquire a spin lock. The second attempt to acquire a spin lock is not blocked in this case because doing so would result in an unrecoverable deadlock. If the calls are made on more than one processor, then one processor will be blocked until the other processor releases the lock.

Resolution

Ensure that you are not recursively acquiring the lock. And, for threads that hold a spin lock, ensure that you are not decreasing the thread IRQL to a level below the IRQL of the spin lock that it is holding.

References

Microsoft: Bug Check Code Reference

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