HD1061: POINTER.DLL Corrects GP Fault with Win32 Apps

Last reviewed: May 1, 1997
Article ID: Q119775
9.01 WINDOWS kbfile kbappnote

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Mouse driver version 9.01

When you start a Win32-based application using Win32s under Windows 3.1 or 3.11 or Windows for Workgroups, you may receive a general protection (GP) fault in POINTER.DLL caused by the Microsoft Mouse driver 9.01 GROWSTUB component. This Application Note, "HD1061: Updated POINTER.DLL Corrects GP Fault with Win32 Applications," contains an updated POINTER.DLL file that prevents this problem.

You can obtain this Application Note from the following sources:

  • Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet
  • The Internet (Microsoft anonymous ftp server)
  • Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
  • Microsoft Product Support Services

For complete information, see the "To Obtain This Application Note" section at the end of this article.

THE TEXT OF HD1061

  Microsoft(R) Product Support Services Application Note (Text File)
             HD1061: UPDATED POINTER.DLL CORRECTS GP FAULT
                      WITH WIN32(R) APPLICATIONS
                                                   Revision Date: 8/94
                                                       1 Disk Included

The following information applies to Microsoft Mouse Driver, version 9.01.

| INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND ANY SOFTWARE THAT MAY    |
| ACCOMPANY THIS DOCUMENT (collectively referred to as an Application|
| Note) IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER     |
| EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED     |
| WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR      |
| PURPOSE. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and   |
| the use of this Application Note. This Application Note may be     |
| copied and distributed subject to the following conditions:  1) All|
| text must be copied without modification and all pages must be     |
| included;  2) If software is included, all files on the disk(s)    |
| must be copied without modification (the MS-DOS(R)  utility        |
| diskcopy is appropriate for this purpose);  3) All components of   |
| this Application Note must be distributed together;  and  4) This  |
| Application Note may not be distributed for profit.                |
|                                                                    |
| Copyright (C) 1994 Microsoft Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.    |
| Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Win32 are registered trademarks and Windows |
| and Win32s are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|

INTRODUCTION

When you start a Win32-based application using Win32s(TM) under Windows(TM) 3.1 or 3.11 or Windows for Workgroups, you may receive a general protection (GP) fault in POINTER.DLL caused by the Microsoft Mouse driver 9.01 GROWSTUB component.

CORRECTING THE PROBLEM

To correct this problem, do one of the following:

  • Remove POINTER.EXE from the load= line in the WIN.INI file and then restart Windows.

    -or-

  • Upgrade to the Microsoft Mouse IntelliPoint software version 1.0. For information about obtaining this upgrade, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. There is a charge for this upgrade.

    -or-

  • Install the Microsoft Mouse driver version 9.01b POINTER.DLL file included with this Application Note.

The 9.01b POINTER.DLL file does not include any new functionality. It prevents the GP fault by removing some of the software functionality of the 9.01 driver (such as large pointer size and the Snap-to feature) when you are using the mouse in a Win32 application. This version of POINTER.DLL works with the 9.01 driver only; it generates various error messages when used with other versions.

To install the 9.01b POINTER.DLL

  1. Quit Windows or Windows for Workgroups.

  2. Make a backup copy of the currently installed POINTER.DLL file by typing the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then pressing ENTER

          ren <drive>:<path>\pointer.dll pointer.old
    

    where <drive>:<path> is the location of your Microsoft Mouse files.

    For example, if your Microsoft Mouse files are installed in your C:\WINDOWS directory, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER:

          ren c:\windows\pointer.dll pointer.old
    

  3. Insert the enclosed HD1061 disk in the appropriate floppy disk drive.

  4. To copy the file to the directory containing your Microsoft Mouse files, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER

          copy <drive>:\pointer.dll <destination>
    

    where <drive> is the floppy disk drive containing the HD1061 disk and <destination> is the drive and directory containing your Microsoft Mouse files.

    For example, if the HD1061 disk is in drive A and your Microsoft Mouse files are in C:\WINDOWS, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER:

          copy a:\pointer.dll c:\windows
    

TO OBTAIN THIS APPLICATION NOTE

You can find HD1061.EXE (size: 28791 bytes) 
                       , a self-extracting file, on the following
services:
  • Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet

          On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon.
          Click Knowledge Base, and select the product.
    
          Enter kbfile hd1061.exe (size: 28791 bytes) 
                                 , and click GO!
          Open the article, and click the button to download the file.
    
    
  • Internet (anonymous FTP)

          ftp ftp.microsoft.com
          Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder.
          Get Hd1061.exe (size: 28791 bytes) 
    
  • Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)

          Dial (425) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
          Download Hd1061.exe (size: 28791 bytes) 
    

For additional information about downloading, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services


KBCategory: kbother kbfile kbappnote
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: appnote 9.01 gpf
Keywords : wfw wfwg kbappnote kbfile kbother
Version : 9.01
Platform : WINDOWS


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: May 1, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.