DOCUMENT:Q158142 08-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :WM_DDE_EXECUTE API Causes a Memory Leak in the WOW Subsystem PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:3.51,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbnetwork ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you run a 16-bit DDE application on Windows NT, you may run out of memory. This may also cause the following error message to appear: System Process - Out of Virtual Memory Your system is running low on virtual memory. Please close some applications. You can then start the System option in the Control Panel and choose the Virtual Machine button to create an additional page file or to increase the size of your current paging file. CAUSE ===== WM_DDE_EXECUTE API causes a memory leak in the Windows on Windows (WOW) subsystem. A memory leak is caused by an application or process that allocates memory for use, but does not later free it up when done. The result is that available memory is completely used up over time, often causing the system to stop functioning properly. RESOLUTION ========== Use the updated Wow32.dll file. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.51 and 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces): S E R V P A C K Additional query words: prodnt ====================================================================== Keywords : kbnetwork Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search Version : winnt:3.51,4.0 ============================================================================= 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. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.