FIX: Visual C++ compiler optimizer may remove loops (306083)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2002), Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2002), Enterprise Architect Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2002), Enterprise Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2002), Academic Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ .NET (2002)

This article was previously published under Q306083

SYMPTOMS

Under certain, rare conditions, the C++ compiler may optimize loops out of a program. When you examine the compiled assembler, you may note that there are functions that do not contain looping instructions, although the source code contains loop constructs.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because of a bug in the global optimizer.

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

837234 List of bugs that are fixed in Visual Studio .NET 2002 Service Pack 1

Hotfix information

The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) 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          Version       Size        File name
   -------------------------------------------------
   11-Apr-2002   13.0.9485.0   1,753,088   C2.dll 
   11-Apr-2002   13.0.9485.0   2,105,344   C1xx.dll 
				


WORKAROUND

To work around the problem, use a larger data type as the iterator value.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Visual Studio .NET 2002 Service Pack 1.

MORE INFORMATION

The following program is an example of the behavior. After you build this sample program by using the default compiler settings for release mode, it prints out Loop only one time.
#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <tchar.h>


int __cdecl _tmain (int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    unsigned char stream, tmp;

    for (stream = 0; stream < 4; stream++)
    {
        tmp = stream;
        fprintf (stderr, "Loop\r\n", (unsigned char)((tmp+4)<<5));
    }
    return 0;
}
				

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/26/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbvs2002sp1sweep kbvs2002sp1fix kbbug kbfix kbQFE KB306083