BUG: Error C1001: _asm Instruction Accessing Stack Using [ebp]

• Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 4.0, 4.2, 5.0, 6.0

SYMPTOMS

Inline assembly code that uses [ebp] to gain access to arguments or local variables on the stack results in this error:

fatal error C1001: INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR
(compiler file '\school.tp3\test\c10\src\P2\386\codegen.c', line 4040)

CAUSE

When an argument is passed to a function, or a local variable is declared in a function, the argument or variable is placed on the stack, and is already referenced in terms of [ebp]. When [ebp] is used explicitly to reference that argument or variable as in ccb[ebp], for example, the compiler adds [ebp] again, resulting in an illegal address. The compiler fails to catch this as a meaningful error, and instead generates error C1001.

RESOLUTION

Do not attempt to gain access to stack arguments or variables in terms of [ebp].

NOTE: In the sample code in this article, lcb[ebp] and ccb[ebp] are invalid references; lcb and ccb need to be referenced directly. Otherwise, the compiler does not catch the illegal reference.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Sample Code

/* Compile options needed:none
*/ 

#include <windows.h>

void masmfunc(DWORD ccb){

   _asm mov eax ,dword ptr ccb[ebp];   //C1001

//Or,
//  DWORD lcb = 20;

// _asm mov eax ,dword ptr lcb[ebp];   //C1001

} 

Additional query words: kbVC400bug

Keywords          : kbCompiler kbVC200bug kbVC210bug kbVC220bug kbVC400bug kbVC410bug kbVC420bug kbVC500bug kbVC600bug 
Version           : winnt:2.0,2.1,2.2,4.0,4.2,5.0,6.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug 

Last Reviewed: May 14, 1999