PRB: A Process Can Map 64 (or Less) Statically-linked CRT DLLs (193462)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API), when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 95
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
This article was previously published under Q193462

SYMPTOMS

An attempt to load a statically-linked CRT-dependent DLL when all 64 of the TLS slots are already in use fails with the following error code:
1114 -- ERROR_DLL_INIT_FAILED.
A process running on Microoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 can only map 64 (or less) statically-linked C run-time (CRT) dependent DLLs. On Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), a process can map up to 80 such DLLs.

A statically-linked CRT-dependent DLL is one in which the CRT library is fully compiled into the DLL.

CAUSE

The CRT library makes use of thread-local storage (TLS). Each time a statically-linked CRT-dependent DLL is mapped into a process, the CRT is initialized. During this initialization, a TLS slot is allocated. There are only TLS_MINIMUM_AVAILABLE slots available to each process. This constant is guaranteed to be at least 64 on all Win32 platforms.

RESOLUTION

If you have code-control over the DLLs, dynamically link them with the CRT library. This provides access to all of the CRT functions, without building them directly into the executable. The DLL version of the CRT is only initialized once per process.

Using the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, you can dynamically link your project with the CRT library by compiling it as a Multithreaded DLL. You can do this by including the /MD compiler switch.

If no CRT functions are used within a DLL, you can include the linker switches /NODEFAULTLIB and /ENTRY:DllMain to bypass the CRT initialization code.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The table below lists the actual number of TLS slots available on different versions of Windows:
Operating SystemTLS Slots
Windows 9564
Windows 9880
Windows Me80
Windows NT 4.064
Windows 20001088
Windows XP1088

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

94248 HOWTO: Use the C Run-Time

94804 INFO: Thread Local Storage Overview

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/27/2004
Keywords:kbDLL kbKernBase kbprb kbThread KB193462
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.