Microsoft KB Archive/65257

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INFO: Why RegisterClass and CreateWindow Fail

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Q65257

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK)
 * Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1

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SUMMARY
The RegisterClass and CreateWindow functions fail when the system resources are used up. The percentage of free system resources reflects the amount of available space in the USER and GDI heaps within Windows. The smaller amount of free space is reported in the Program Manager's About box because if either heap fills up, functions fail.

Under Windows NT, the USER and GDI heap resources are practically unlimited. Under Windows 95, the USER and GDI heap resources are greater than Windows 3.1, but not as great as under Windows NT.

MORE INFORMATION
If the amount of free system resources remains low after the application is exited, it is more likely that the GDI heap is filling. The main reason for the GDI heap filling is that GDI objects that are created by the application are not deleted or destroyed when they are no longer needed, or when the program terminates. Windows does not delete GDI objects (pens, brushes, fonts, regions, and bitmaps) when the program exits. Objects must be properly deleted or destroyed.

NOTE: Win32-based applications cannot cause the USER or GDI heaps to overflow when they terminate, because the system will release the resources to maximize available resources.

The following are two situations that can cause the USER heap to get full:


 * 1) Memory is allocated for &quot;extra bytes&quot; associated with window classes and windows themselves. Make sure that the cbClsExtra and cbWndExtra fields in the WNDCLASS structure are set to 0 (zero), unless they really are being used.
 * 2) Menus are stored in the USER heap. If menus are added but are not destroyed when they are no longer needed, or when the application terminates, system resources will go down.

CreateWindow will also fail under the following conditions:


 * 1) Windows cannot find the window procedure listed in the CreateWindow call. Avoid this by ensuring that each window procedure is listed in the EXPORTS section of the program's DEF file.
 * 2) CreateWindow cannot find the specified window class.
 * 3) The hwndparent is incorrect (make sure to use debug Windows to see the RIPs).
 * 4) CreateWindow cannot allocate memory for internal structures in USER heap.
 * 5) The application returns 0 (zero) to the WM_NCCREATE message.
 * 6) The application returns -1 to the WM_CREATE message.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbOSWinNT kbOSWin2000 kbSDKWin32 kbGrpDSUser kbOSWin kbWndw

Issue type : kbinfo

Technology : kbWin32SDKSearch kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWin32sSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310