Visual Studio "Unable to start program " error

KK 0

I have a project in C++ Visual Studio 2022. The code is built well and run in RELEASE mode, but in DEBUG mode the can be built but when I try to run it, the message (see the attachment) come to the screen.

The code was working in its original form. When I added a STRING type variable in some header files, I started getting this error. I can't find out what's causing the problem right now. Because when I define a variable of type INTEGER in the same header file in the same project, I do not receive an error.

I tried cleaning and rebuilding my project in DEBUG mode. It did not work.

Could you please help me?

Kemal

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-15T12:24:09.15+00:00

The attachment showing an error message is missing from your post. Please provide the missing error message as well as details about the changes that you made to header files associated with the error.
KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-15T14:51:41.38+00:00

Thank you for your reply @RLWA32 . I have attached the screenshots below.

3 answers

Anna Xiu-MSFT 28,576 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-11-15T12:40:07.6233333+00:00
Hi @KK ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

How did you add string type in the header file? If possible, please share us more details or screenshots about the error message. And you can check the detailed build error in the Output window.

Please try the following:

If you have multiple projects in the solution, please go to Solution Explorer > right-click on project node > Set as Startup Project.

Close all running VS and enter “devenv /ResetSettings” at Developer Command Prompt for VS 2022 to restore your Visual Studio default settings.

Close VS and manually delete the hidden .vs, bin and obj folders in the project folder. Then, re-launch the VS and rebuild your project.

You can create a new C++ project and verify it again.

Sincerely,

Anna

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KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-15T14:35:08.5733333+00:00

Thank you @Anna Xiu-MSFT ,but unfortunately it did not work.
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KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-15T14:27:50.1366667+00:00

Thank you Anna, for your response.

I am sorry, forgot to attach screenshots!

This is the header file. I have just defined a variable named "kemal" asa type of "string".

This is the output. It is looking fine.

but this error comes when I push the Local Windows Debugger button.
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RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-15T15:02:59.1333333+00:00

Are there any related entries in the Windows Application Event log?

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-15T15:12:36.61+00:00

Nope.

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-16T10:43:14.4+00:00

Run dumpbin /headers on the .exe and post the output. Do it from a visual studio developer command prompt.
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KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-15T15:19:25.88+00:00

I have also tried the same code to run in three different computers, but the result did not change.

By the way, in the same header file the variables in the string type have been defined before but they are OK. It is interesting because the error only occurs when I try to add new variable in "string" type.
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RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-15T16:43:44.22+00:00

There is no reason that I can think of why declaring an unused string variable would cause the runtime error shown.

I suspect there is something wrong with the project properties that have been set for a Debug configuration.

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T08:22:33.04+00:00

Thank you @RLWA32 Interestingly, when I define the variable using a different type, such as char, in the same configuration, it works as expected.

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-16T09:30:53.05+00:00

Can you share a minimal sample that reproduces the problem?

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T09:55:01.6633333+00:00

Unfortunately, It is a huge project and there are a lot of files connected each other.

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-16T10:10:34.75+00:00

What happens if you try to start the problematic executable outside of Visual Studio?

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T10:26:42.2666667+00:00

This message occurs:

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-16T10:38:13.7366667+00:00

Anything relevant in the event log after trying outside of VS?

Run dumpbin /headers on the .exe and post the output. Do it from a visual studio developer command prompt.

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T11:05:45.3433333+00:00

Nothing

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-16T11:21:57.24+00:00

What about dumpbin output?

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T12:02:22.5666667+00:00

Dump of file QEGTRAIN.exe File Type: EXECUTABLE IMAGE Summary 1000 .00cfg 79CFC000 .data 14000 .idata 1F000 .pdata 6B000 .rdata 6000 .reloc 1000 .rsrc 20E000 .text

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-16T12:11:55.1233333+00:00

It looks like you forgot to specify the /headers option.

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T12:18:57.8766667+00:00

Sorry, here we go.

FILE HEADER VALUES
8664 machine (x64)
8 number of sections
6554DF6A time date stamp Wed Nov 15 16:10:34 2023
0 file pointer to symbol table
0 number of symbols
F0 size of optional header
22 characteristics
Executable
Application can handle large (>2GB) addresses

OPTIONAL HEADER VALUES
20B magic # (PE32+)
14.37 linker version
20D600 size of code
79D9E000 size of initialized data
0 size of uninitialized data
5970 entry point (0000000140005970) @ILT+18795(mainCRTStartup)
1000 base of code
140000000 image base (0000000140000000 to 00000001B9FB0FFF)
1000 section alignment
200 file alignment
6.00 operating system version
0.00 image version
6.00 subsystem version
0 Win32 version
79FB1000 size of image
400 size of headers
0 checksum
3 subsystem (Windows CUI)
8160 DLL characteristics
High Entropy Virtual Addresses
Dynamic base
NX compatible
Terminal Server Aware
2540BE400 size of stack reserve
3B9ACA00 size of stack commit
3B9ACA00 size of heap reserve
3B9ACA00 size of heap commit
0 loader flags
10 number of directories
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Export Directory
79F97B70 [ 104] RVA [size] of Import Directory
79FAA000 [ 43C] RVA [size] of Resource Directory
79F76000 [ 1B864] RVA [size] of Exception Directory
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Certificates Directory
79FAB000 [ F34] RVA [size] of Base Relocation Directory
24FE00 [ 38] RVA [size] of Debug Directory
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Architecture Directory
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Global Pointer Directory
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Thread Storage Directory
24FC80 [ 140] RVA [size] of Load Configuration Directory
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Bound Import Directory
79F95000 [ 2B70] RVA [size] of Import Address Table Directory
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Delay Import Directory
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of COM Descriptor Directory
0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Reserved Directory

SECTION HEADER #1
.text name
20D50D virtual size
1000 virtual address (0000000140001000 to 000000014020E50C)
20D600 size of raw data
400 file pointer to raw data (00000400 to 0020D9FF)
0 file pointer to relocation table
0 file pointer to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
60000020 flags
Code
Execute Read

SECTION HEADER #2
.rdata name
6AC8C virtual size
20F000 virtual address (000000014020F000 to 0000000140279C8B)
6AE00 size of raw data
20DA00 file pointer to raw data (0020DA00 to 002787FF)
0 file pointer to relocation table
0 file pointer to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
40000040 flags
Initialized Data
Read Only

Debug Directories

Time Type Size RVA Pointer -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- 6554DF6A cv 58 002545A0 252FA0 Format: RSDS, {315BB10A-2F92-46DC-B423-F6F3F7BC2229}, 1, C:\Users\kkeskin\Documents\EGTrain_Kemal\x64\Debug\QEGTRAIN.pdb 6554DF6A feat 14 002545F8 252FF8 Counts: Pre-VC++ 11.00=0, C/C++=87, /GS=87, /sdl=0, guardN=44

SECTION HEADER #3
.data name
79CFB091 virtual size
27A000 virtual address (000000014027A000 to 00000001B9F75090)
2A00 size of raw data
278800 file pointer to raw data (00278800 to 0027B1FF)
0 file pointer to relocation table
0 file pointer to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
C0000040 flags
Initialized Data
Read Write

SECTION HEADER #4
.pdata name
1E594 virtual size
79F76000 virtual address (00000001B9F76000 to 00000001B9F94593)
1E600 size of raw data
27B200 file pointer to raw data (0027B200 to 002997FF)
0 file pointer to relocation table
0 file pointer to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
40000040 flags
Initialized Data
Read Only

SECTION HEADER #5
.idata name
130E4 virtual size
79F95000 virtual address (00000001B9F95000 to 00000001B9FA80E3)
13200 size of raw data
299800 file pointer to raw data (00299800 to 002AC9FF)
0 file pointer to relocation table
0 file pointer to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
40000040 flags
Initialized Data
Read Only

SECTION HEADER #6
.00cfg name
175 virtual size
79FA9000 virtual address (00000001B9FA9000 to 00000001B9FA9174)
200 size of raw data
2ACA00 file pointer to raw data (002ACA00 to 002ACBFF)
0 file pointer to relocation table
0 file pointer to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
40000040 flags
Initialized Data
Read Only

SECTION HEADER #7
.rsrc name
43C virtual size
79FAA000 virtual address (00000001B9FAA000 to 00000001B9FAA43B)
600 size of raw data
2ACC00 file pointer to raw data (002ACC00 to 002AD1FF)
0 file pointer to relocation table
0 file pointer to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
40000040 flags
Initialized Data
Read Only

SECTION HEADER #8
.reloc name
5E58 virtual size
79FAB000 virtual address (00000001B9FAB000 to 00000001B9FB0E57)
6000 size of raw data
2AD200 file pointer to raw data (002AD200 to 002B31FF)
0 file pointer to relocation table
0 file pointer to line numbers
0 number of relocations
0 number of line numbers
42000040 flags
Initialized Data
Discardable
Read Only

Summary

1000 .00cfg 79CFC000 .data 14000 .idata 1F000 .pdata 6B000 .rdata 6000 .reloc 1000 .rsrc 20E000 .text

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-16T12:34:28.78+00:00

Now remove the string variable declaration and create a working version of your debug build. Run dumpbin /headers on the working version and post that output. I expect it will differ significantly from the previous post.

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-16T12:56:22.0966667+00:00

Dumpbin output for Working version

FILE HEADER VALUES 8664 machine (x64) 8 number of sections 65561038 time date stamp Thu Nov 16 13:51:04 2023 0 file pointer to symbol table 0 number of symbols F0 size of optional header 22 characteristics Executable Application can handle large (>2GB) addresses OPTIONAL HEADER VALUES 20B magic # (PE32+) 14.37 linker version 20D400 size of code 72E73C00 size of initialized data 0 size of uninitialized data 5961 entry point (0000000140005961) @ILT+18780(mainCRTStartup) 1000 base of code 140000000 image base (0000000140000000 to 00000001B3085FFF) 1000 section alignment 200 file alignment 6.00 operating system version 0.00 image version 6.00 subsystem version 0 Win32 version 73086000 size of image 400 size of headers 0 checksum 3 subsystem (Windows CUI) 8160 DLL characteristics High Entropy Virtual Addresses Dynamic base NX compatible Terminal Server Aware 2540BE400 size of stack reserve 3B9ACA00 size of stack commit 3B9ACA00 size of heap reserve 3B9ACA00 size of heap commit 0 loader flags 10 number of directories 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Export Directory 7306CB70 [ 104] RVA [size] of Import Directory 7307F000 [ 43C] RVA [size] of Resource Directory 7304B000 [ 1B840] RVA [size] of Exception Directory 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Certificates Directory 73080000 [ F34] RVA [size] of Base Relocation Directory 24FE40 [ 38] RVA [size] of Debug Directory 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Architecture Directory 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Global Pointer Directory 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Thread Storage Directory 24FCC0 [ 140] RVA [size] of Load Configuration Directory 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Bound Import Directory 7306A000 [ 2B70] RVA [size] of Import Address Table Directory 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Delay Import Directory 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of COM Descriptor Directory 0 [ 0] RVA [size] of Reserved Directory SECTION HEADER #1 .text name 20D2ED virtual size 1000 virtual address (0000000140001000 to 000000014020E2EC) 20D400 size of raw data 400 file pointer to raw data (00000400 to 0020D7FF) 0 file pointer to relocation table 0 file pointer to line numbers 0 number of relocations 0 number of line numbers 60000020 flags Code Execute Read SECTION HEADER #2 .rdata name 6ACCC virtual size 20F000 virtual address (000000014020F000 to 0000000140279CCB) 6AE00 size of raw data 20D800 file pointer to raw data (0020D800 to 002785FF) 0 file pointer to relocation table 0 file pointer to line numbers 0 number of relocations 0 number of line numbers 40000040 flags Initialized Data Read Only Debug Directories Time Type Size RVA Pointer -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- 65561038 cv 58 00254620 252E20 Format: RSDS, {7AAD8441-161A-48E7-B402-A4F30053B2E3}, 1, C:\Users\kkeskin\Documents\EGTrain_Kemal\x64\Debug\QEGTRAIN.pdb 65561038 feat 14 00254678 252E78 Counts: Pre-VC++ 11.00=0, C/C++=87, /GS=87, /sdl=0, guardN=44 SECTION HEADER #3 .data name 72DD0DB1 virtual size 27A000 virtual address (000000014027A000 to 00000001B304ADB0) 2A00 size of raw data 278600 file pointer to raw data (00278600 to 0027AFFF) 0 file pointer to relocation table 0 file pointer to line numbers 0 number of relocations 0 number of line numbers C0000040 flags Initialized Data Read Write SECTION HEADER #4 .pdata name 1E570 virtual size 7304B000 virtual address (00000001B304B000 to 00000001B306956F) 1E600 size of raw data 27B000 file pointer to raw data (0027B000 to 002995FF) 0 file pointer to relocation table 0 file pointer to line numbers 0 number of relocations 0 number of line numbers 40000040 flags Initialized Data Read Only SECTION HEADER #5 .idata name 130E4 virtual size 7306A000 virtual address (00000001B306A000 to 00000001B307D0E3) 13200 size of raw data 299600 file pointer to raw data (00299600 to 002AC7FF) 0 file pointer to relocation table 0 file pointer to line numbers 0 number of relocations 0 number of line numbers 40000040 flags Initialized Data Read Only SECTION HEADER #6 .00cfg name 175 virtual size 7307E000 virtual address (00000001B307E000 to 00000001B307E174) 200 size of raw data 2AC800 file pointer to raw data (002AC800 to 002AC9FF) 0 file pointer to relocation table 0 file pointer to line numbers 0 number of relocations 0 number of line numbers 40000040 flags Initialized Data Read Only SECTION HEADER #7 .rsrc name 43C virtual size 7307F000 virtual address (00000001B307F000 to 00000001B307F43B) 600 size of raw data 2ACA00 file pointer to raw data (002ACA00 to 002ACFFF) 0 file pointer to relocation table 0 file pointer to line numbers 0 number of relocations 0 number of line numbers 40000040 flags Initialized Data Read Only SECTION HEADER #8 .reloc name 5E58 virtual size 73080000 virtual address (00000001B3080000 to 00000001B3085E57) 6000 size of raw data 2AD000 file pointer to raw data (002AD000 to 002B2FFF) 0 file pointer to relocation table 0 file pointer to line numbers 0 number of relocations 0 number of line numbers 42000040 flags Initialized Data Discardable Read Only Summary 1000 .00cfg 72DD1000 .data 14000 .idata 1F000 .pdata 6B000 .rdata 6000 .reloc 1000 .rsrc 20E000 .text

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-17T06:32:21.4133333+00:00

I was hoping that dumpbin output would help identify why Windows believes that VS2022 is producing an invalid image. I don't know how much memory (physical and virtual) your system has but I noticed memory reserve and commit settings for stack and heap that far exceed linker defaults.

At this point I suggest you open a case with Microsoft through Visual Studio's feedback mechanism to report a problem.

KK 0 Reputation points

2023-11-21T10:39:29.4233333+00:00

At this point I suggest you open a case with Microsoft through Visual Studio's feedback mechanism to report a problem.

Thank you @RLWA32 . Microsoft Visual Studio's feedback mechanism can be slow for us to solve it. Do you know of any contact at Microsoft who I can forward this problem directly? @Anna Xiu-MSFT

RLWA32 44,931 Reputation points

2023-11-21T11:32:59.0566667+00:00

If you want faster response time from Microsoft I suppose you could open a paid support case. Refer to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/microsoft-professional-support-pay-per-incident-faq-575821bc-17bb-7484-4935-334c5437639f
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Visual Studio "Unable to start program " error

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