Q69027: Handling Critical Errors in Windows-Based Application

Article: Q69027
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): _IK
Last Modified: 06-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The Windows SetErrorMode() function controls whether Windows handles MS-DOS
Function 24H errors or allows the calling application to handle them. Listed
below is an example of an MS-DOS Function 24H error and Windows's method for
handling the error: if an application attempts to access drive A and there is no
disk in that drive, Windows displays the System Error message box "Cannot read
from drive A: (Cancel) (Retry)."

Calling SetErrorMode() allows the application to handle these messages rather
than defaulting to the System Error message box.

The following code fragment demonstrates this process:

    SetErrorMode(1);   // Allow application to handle system error
        ...
       /* If error occurs, handle it appropriately. */ 
        ...
     SetErrorMode(0);   // Windows will display the standard
                        // INT 24H error message box for any other
                        // System Errors.


Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : _IK 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================