FIX: /Zl Generates Invalid VXD Or Driver Image

• Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, version 6.0

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 this to be a bug in the Microsoft products 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:

Q194022 INFO: Visual Studio 6.0 Service Packs, What, Where, Why

Q194295 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

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbservicepack kbCompiler kbVC600 kbVS600sp2 kbVS600SP1 kbVS600sp3fix
Version : winnt:6.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug