The Old New Thing

Practical development throughout the evolution of Windows.

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Using an oracle to see where your code is producing the wrong output
May 30, 2025
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Using an oracle to see where your code is producing the wrong output

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

If there is a reference implementation, then use it as a check.

The case of creating new instances when you wanted to use the same one
May 29, 2025
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The case of creating new instances when you wanted to use the same one

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

C++ language backward compatibility makes legal what you had hoped wasn't.

How do I convert a WIC bitmap back to a GDI <CODE>HBITMAP</CODE>?
May 28, 2025
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How do I convert a WIC bitmap back to a GDI HBITMAP?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

You can copy the bits into a DIB section.

What was origin of the code name Redpill for Windows 8 feature lockout?
May 27, 2025
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What was origin of the code name Redpill for Windows 8 feature lockout?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Pretty obvious, actually.

Why does <CODE>Enum­Process­Modules</CODE> report no modules on a process that was created suspended?
May 26, 2025
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Why does Enum­Process­Modules report no modules on a process that was created suspended?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

There are no modules yet because you didn't give them a chance to load.

How can I detect if one of my helper processes is launching child processes?
May 23, 2025
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How can I detect if one of my helper processes is launching child processes?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

You can ask a job object to keep track for you.

How can I create a window the size of the screen without it being treated as a fullscreen window?
May 22, 2025
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How can I create a window the size of the screen without it being treated as a fullscreen window?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

You can declare that you aren't rude.

Silly parlor tricks: Promoting a 32-bit value to a 64-bit value when you don’t care about garbage in the upper bits
May 21, 2025
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Silly parlor tricks: Promoting a 32-bit value to a 64-bit value when you don’t care about garbage in the upper bits

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Inline assembly that doesn't do anything.

Why does Windows report my processor speed twice, with slightly different values?
May 20, 2025
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Why does Windows report my processor speed twice, with slightly different values?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

One is calculated. The other is self-promotion.

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