Description of problem:
Cannot find user-level thread for LWP 4256: generic error


Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
GNU gdb Red Hat Linux (6.3.0.0-1.84rh)

How reproducible:
3+ years reproducible

Steps to Reproduce:
1.download a sun jdk ( www.javasoft.com ). It appears that any java jdk
(1.4/1.5/1.6 ) shows this problem
2. gdb /home/gat/JAVA/JDK15/jdk1.5.0_05/bin/javac
3. r
  
Actual results:
This GDB was configured as "i386-redhat-linux-gnu"...
(no debugging symbols found)
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/tls/i686/libthread_db.so.1".

(gdb) r
Starting program: /home/gat/JAVA/JDK15/jdk1.5.0_05/bin/javac
Reading symbols from shared object read from target memory...(no debugging
symbols found)...done.
Loaded system supplied DSO at 0x742000
(no debugging symbols found)
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
[New Thread 8029888 (LWP 4256)]
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
Cannot find user-level thread for LWP 4256: generic error
(gdb)


Expected results:
[gat@MyLaptop ~]$ /home/gat/JAVA/JDK15/jdk1.5.0_05/bin/javac
Usage: javac <options> <source files>
where possible options include:
  -g                         Generate all debugging info
  -g:none                    Generate no debugging info
  -g:{lines,vars,source}     Generate only some debugging info
  -nowarn                    Generate no warnings
  -verbose                   Output messages about what the compiler is doing
  -deprecation               Output source locations where deprecated APIs are used
  -classpath <path>          Specify where to find user class files
  -cp <path>                 Specify where to find user class files
  -sourcepath <path>         Specify where to find input source files
  -bootclasspath <path>      Override location of bootstrap class files
  -extdirs <dirs>            Override location of installed extensions
  -endorseddirs <dirs>       Override location of endorsed standards path
  -d <directory>             Specify where to place generated class files
  -encoding <encoding>       Specify character encoding used by source files
  -source <release>          Provide source compatibility with specified release
 -target <release>          Generate class files for specific VM version
  -version                   Version information
  -help                      Print a synopsis of standard options
  -X                         Print a synopsis of nonstandard options
  -J<flag>                   Pass <flag> directly to the runtime system

[gat@MyLaptop ~]$


Additional info:
The javac thread did not die. it appears to be in a "T" state. 
from google, it appears that this bug has been around for a couple of years.