PRB: DX1410 Error Using NMAKE with MASM 6.11

• Microsoft Macro Assembler for MS-DOS, version 6.11

SYMPTOMS

Using NMAKE to build a project that invokes MASM version 6.11 produces this error:

   DOSXNT : fatal error DX1410: cannot load program : entry point not
   found in DLL

CAUSE

The DX1410 error occurs because the version of the DOS extender (DOSXNT.EXE) loaded by NMAKE is not compatible with MASM version 6.11. If there is more than one DOS extender on the system, the one used is the one found first when searching the current directory, then the path.

RESOLUTION

Ensure that the most recent version of the DOS extender gets loaded. Using the real mode version of NMAKE, NMAKER, will also alleviate the DX1410 error. However, NMAKER will cause an increase in build times as the DOS extender is loaded each time the compiler and assembler is invoked.

MORE INFORMATION

The following information is taken from the MASM version 6.11 README.TXT file:

Visual C++ 1.0/Fortran PowerStation 1.0 Compatibility

There are specific steps you must take to use MASM version 6.11 with Microsoft Visual C++ version 1.0 or Microsoft Fortran PowerStation version 1.0. If you want to do mixed language programming with these products, follow these recommendations:

• Install Visual C++/Fortran PowerStation and MASM version 6.11 in separate subdirectories.
• Place \MSVC\BIN or \F32\BIN (your Visual C++ or Fortran PowerStation subdirectory) in front of \MASM611\BIN (your MASM version 6.11 subdirectory) on the PATH.
• Use NMAKE.EXE from MASM version 6.11. You can do this using various methods, such as moving or renaming NMAKE.EXE installed in \MSVC or \F32 thus causing the system to continue searching your path and use the NMAKE.EXE in \MASM611.