KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q165792: FIX: MSDEV.EXE Application Error When Building an Application

Article: Q165792
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s): WINDOWS NT: 5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg kbProgramming kbide kbVC kbVC500bug kbVS97sp1fix kbGrpDSTools
Last Modified: 31-JUL-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition, version 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you compile a file in Developer Studio, an error similar to the following
may occur:

  MSDEV.EXE - Application Error
  The instruction at "0x500b153d" referenced memory at "0x100000c1.
  The memory could not be "read".

  -or-

  Error executing ~vcecho!Compiling.

CAUSE
=====

The install directory contains spaces and the root directory contains a file
with the same name as the first part of the install directory, or the project
directory contains an ampersand (&) in its name.

A common scenario follows.

Developer Studio was installed under the default Program Files directory and
there is a file in the root directory with a filename of Program. For example:

  C:\Program

  -or-

  C:\Program.exe

RESOLUTION
==========

Rename the file.

  -or-

Delete the file.

  -or-

Uninstall Developer Studio and install it in a directory that doesn't contain
spaces.

  -or-

Uninstall Developer Studio and install it in a directory with spaces that doesn't
have a file in the root directory with the same name as the first part of the
install directory.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the
beginning of this article. This bug has been corrected in Visual Studio 97
Service Pack 1.

For additional information about the Visual Studio 97 Service Pack 1, please see
the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q170365 INFO: Visual Studio 97 Service Packs - What, Where, and Why

MORE INFORMATION
================

If the file happens to be an executable such as C:\Program.exe, then program.exe
will be executed instead of the build. If program.exe returns zero, then you
will see any output from stdout in the build tab of the output window. If
program.exe returns non-zero, then you will see the error message "Error
executing ~vcecho!Compiling." in the build tab of the output window.

Additional query words: crash

======================================================================
Keywords          : kberrmsg kbProgramming kbide kbVC kbVC500bug kbVS97sp1fix kbGrpDSTools 
Technology        : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVC500 kbVC32bitSearch kbVC500Search
Version           : WINDOWS NT: 5.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.