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Q70262: FIX: Invalid Executable File, 65,535 Byte Stack Size Requested

Article: Q70262
Product(s): Microsoft Programming Utilities
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0x,5.1x,5.2; OS/2:5.0x,5.1,5.11,5.13,5.15
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 24-DEC-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft LINK for MS-DOS, versions 3.x, 4.x, 5.0x, 5.1x, 5.2 
- Microsoft LINK for OS/2, versions 5.0x, 5.1, 5.11, 5.13, 5.15 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

An attempt to run an executable file fails and the computer hangs, the program
gives unexpected results, or generates the following message:

  run-time error R6000
  - stack overflow

CAUSE
=====

The application specifies a stack size of exactly 65,535 bytes. When the
Microsoft LINK /STACK option specifies 65,535 bytes (or the Microsoft language
compiler /F option specifies FFFFh bytes), the linker does not display a warning
message and it sets the stack size to zero bytes. The error occurs because LINK
rounds an odd stack size to the next larger even value in an effort to create
the most efficient executable file.

RESOLUTION
==========

To request the largest possible stack size, specify 65,534 in the /STACK linker
option (or /F compiler option).

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in LINK versions listed above. LINK
versions 5.3 and higher (16-bit versions) generate an error if the user
specifies a stack size larger than 65,534 (64K - 2).

Additional query words: 3.65 3.69 4.06 4.07 4.10 5.01.20 5.01.21 5.02 5.03 5.05 5.10 5.11 5.13 5.15 5.20

======================================================================
Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword3 kbLINKSearch kbLINK3xDOSSearch kbLINK4xDOSSearch kbLINK50xDOSSearch kbLINK510xDOSSearch kbLINK50xOS2Search kbLINK520DOS kbLINK510OS2 kbLINK511OS2 kbLINK513OS2 kbLINK515OS2
Version           : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0x,5.1x,5.2; OS/2:5.0x,5.1,5.11,5.13,5.15
Solution Type     : kbfix

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