FIX: /Zl Generates Invalid VXD Or Driver Image (217171)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 6.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 6.0
Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition 6.0

This article was previously published under Q217171

SYMPTOMS

A Virtual Device Driver (VxD) or driver built with Visual C++ fails to load or run.

CAUSE

The /ZI compiler option (debug info for Edit and Continue) uses the the compiler option /GF (constant string pooling) which places strings in .rdata. It is the presence of .rdata that causes the VxDs to fail. This option is turned on by default when a project is ported from Visual C++ version 5.0 to version 6.0.

RESOLUTION

Remove the /ZI compiler option or use /Zi instead.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

This bug was corrected in Visual Studio 6.0 Service Pack 3. For more information about Visual Studio service packs, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

194022 INFO: Visual Studio 6.0 Service Packs, What, Where, Why

194295 HOWTO: Tell That Visual Studio 6.0 Service Packs Are Installed

MORE INFORMATION

The Visual C++ 6.0 Service Pack 3 linker generates the following warnings:

LNK4075: ignoring /EDITANDCONTINUE due to /VXD specification
LNK4212: Section "section_name" has an unknown VxD section type; image may not load

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	11/18/2003
Keywords:	kbbug kbCompiler kbfix kbVS600sp3fix KB217171