PRB: Error Executing ~vcecho!Compiling (188720)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 5.0
This article was previously published under Q188720
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

You may get one of the following error messages while building a project in the Developer Studio:
Error spawning cl.exe

-or-

Error executing ~vcecho!Compiling.

-or-

Or, you might get an application error dialog box with the message:
The instruction at "0x500af8b4" referenced memory at
"0x00000000". The memory could not be "read".

Click on OK to terminate application
Click on CANCEL to debug the application
Developer Studio hangs after this error, regardless of the action you take.

MORE INFORMATION

If you get one of the above errors, use the following steps to ensure that your computer has the correct settings:

  1. In Microsoft Developer Studio, on the Tools menu, click Options, then click the Directories tab. In the "Show directories for" drop-down list box, select Executable Files. The following paths should be listed, where drive C is the installation drive:

    If installed on Windows NT: 
          C:\Program Files\DevStudio\SharedIDE\BIN
      C:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\BIN
      C:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\BIN\WINNT
    If installed on Windows 95: 
          C:\Program Files\DevStudio\SharedIDE\BIN
      C:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\BIN
      C:\Program Files\DevStudio\VC\BIN\WIN95
  2. The "COMSPEC" environment variable should have the following value:

    If installed on Windows NT: 
          COMSPEC=%SYSTEMROOT%\CMD.EXE
    To view and modify the COMSPEC environment variable in the NT Operating System, in Control panel, double-click the System icon, then click the Environment tab. The COMSPEC variable should be in the System Variables box. You can add or modify a variable using the Variable and Value edit box.

    If installed on Windows 95: 
          COMSPEC=%WINDIR%\COMMAND.COM
    In Windows 95, type SET in a DOS window; you will see the environment variables. Add or modify an environment variable by adding a SET command to the Autoexec.bat file, and rebooting.
  3. If none of the above steps resolves the issue, make sure that installed Windows CE components are installed under a user account with administrative privileges.
  4. If none of the above steps work, then uninstall Windows CE components (if installed) and uninstall Visual C++ 5.0. After uninstalling, delete the ..\DevStudio directory in the installed drive, saving any user-created projects before deleting. Then delete the following registry keys if they still exist. 
          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\DevStudio
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Infoviewer\5.0
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DevStudio
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Infoviewer\5.0
    Then reinstall Visual C++ version 5.0. Verify that this installation works before installing any Windows CE components.

    WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

    For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

165792 MSDEV.EXE Application Error When Building an Application

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/24/2003
Keywords:kbide kbprb KB188720
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.