WM_DDE_EXECUTE API Causes a Memory Leak in the WOW Subsystem

ID: Q158142

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 kbbug4.00 kbbug3.51 kbfix4.00.sp2 nt16ap NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.51 4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type :