Microsoft KB Archive/898781

= FIX: You experience slow performance or a program stops responding when the program calls a COM method and the MIDL defines an [out] pointer to pointer argument =

Article ID: 898781

Article Last Modified on 8/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SYMPTOMS
When you start a program that makes a call to a Microsoft Component Object Model (COM) method, you may experience slow performance or the program may stop responding (hang).

This problem occurs on the server side when the Microsoft Interface Definition Language (MIDL) defines an [out] pointer to pointer argument.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because the procedure format string that is generated by the type library marshaler incorrectly marks the [out] pointer-to-pointer argument. This behavior causes a memory leak of 24 bytes every time that a COM method call is made.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
You must have Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.  Date         Time   Version        Size     File name -- 28-Apr-2005  19:29  5.1.2600.2665  580,608  Rpcrt4.dll



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use the MIDL-generated marshaler instead of the type library marshaler. To do this, do not use the [oleautomation] attribute for the interface. Then, register the MIDL-generated proxy/stub.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

Keywords: kbwinxppresp3fix kbfix kbbug kbpubtypekc kbhotfixserver kbqfe KB898781

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