CompareString (and lstrcmp, lstrcat, etc) problems

[killdash9]

Good evening all.  I'm stuck. :(

I've written a program that is SUPPOSED to compare 2 strings.   It assembles and links without error.  However when i execute windows throws an error "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file.  you may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."   This happens when i use CompareString, lstrcmp, or even lstrcat.

Here is the relevant code:

----CODE BEGINS-------
.386p
.model flat,stdcall
option casemap:none

WinMain proto :DWORD,:DWORD,:DWORD,:DWORD

include \masm32\include\windows.inc
include \masm32\include\user32.inc
include \masm32\include\kernel32.inc
include \masm32\include\gdi32.inc
includelib \masm32\lib\user32.lib
includelib \masm32\lib\kernel32.lib
includelib \masm32\lib\gdi32.lib
include \masm32\include\masm32.inc
includelib \masm32\lib\masm32.lib

...

.data
ClassName db "SimpleWinClass",0
AppName  db "System Time v 1.1",0
FontName db "script",0
timeFormat db "HH':'mm':'ss tt"
dbZulu db "Zulu Time",0
dbLocal db "Local Time",0
dbText db "BEDTIME!!!!!",0
dbCaption db "ALERT",0
dbAlarmTime db "02:05:00 AM",0
.data?
hInstance HINSTANCE ?
CommandLine LPSTR ?
ThreadID DWORD ?
Rect  RECT <?>
TestString db ?
TestString2 db ?
strucTime SYSTEMTIME <?>

.code

WndProc proc hWnd:HWND, uMsg:UINT, wParam:WPARAM, lParam:LPARAM
   LOCAL hdc:HDC
   LOCAL ps:PAINTSTRUCT
   LOCAL hfont:HFONT

   .IF uMsg==WM_DESTROY
                  invoke KillTimer,hWnd,ID_TIMER
                               invoke KillTimer,hWnd, ID_TIMER1
                               invoke PostQuitMessage,NULL
                  xor eax,eax


                 .ELSEIF uMsg==WM_CREATE
                               invoke SetTimer, hWnd,1, 1000, 0
                               invoke SetTimer, hWnd,2, 990, 0
                               
                                xor eax,eax
                .ELSEIF uMsg==WM_TIMER
      .if wParam==1
                                invoke GetTimeFormat, 0, TIME_FORCE24HOURFORMAT, 0, ADDR timeFormat, ADDR TestString, 11
                                jmp alarmtest

...

WndProc endp
alarmtest:
invoke CompareString,LOCALE_USER_DEFAULT,NORM_IGNORECASE,TestString,9,dbAlarmTime,9
.if EAX==2
jmp alert
.endif
ret
alert:
invoke MessageBox, NULL,dbText,dbCaption,MB_OK
ret
end start
-----END CODE-----


I've tried ADDR teststring, offset teststring, moving the strings into registers,and -1ing and different values for the string sizes in CompareString all to no avail.

I've cut the "standard" code (building the window etc) from this listing.  I can add it if necessary.

Does anyone have any ideas?  (Why it is that way would help too)


Thanks

Kill -9

[dedndave]

well - that isn't an assembly error
sounds more like an os privilege level hiccup
are you running win 7 ?
admin privileges ?

[fearless]

Not sure, the only thing that i can think of is if your running on restricted access and that accessing time/date or locale settings is currently prohibited. Depends on the operating system and the account your using  - admin vs ordinary user account under vista/win7? UAC? plus the exe file you created probably doesnt have an associated manifest file which vista/win 7 prob wont be happy about. Also depends on where your running exe from - If its in C:\Program Files\X then vista/win7 might complain about that and give you the message you got.

Try moving exe to a normal folder c:\test for example, check your running with administrator rights on the account your using, check UAC settings, try to change date/time from tray bar - if it wont let you, you know its related to that, if none of that applies then it might be the manifest file thing, which informs vista/win7 a little bit more about your exe and what it might need in terms of access or other things.

[dedndave]

here is what i get

Code Select Expand

Microsoft (R) Macro Assembler Version 6.15.8804
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1981-2000.  All rights reserved.

Assembling: try.asm
try.asm(17) : error A2008: syntax error : .
try.asm(46) : error A2006: undefined symbol : ID_TIMER
try.asm(46) : error A2114: INVOKE argument type mismatch : argument : 2
try.asm(47) : error A2006: undefined symbol : ID_TIMER1
try.asm(47) : error A2114: INVOKE argument type mismatch : argument : 2
try.asm(62) : error A2008: syntax error : .
try.asm(74) : fatal error A1010: unmatched block nesting : .if-.repeat-.while

[dedndave]

this assembles without error...

Code Select Expand


include\masm32\include\masm32rt.inc

WinMain proto :DWORD,:DWORD,:DWORD,:DWORD

ID_TIMER equ 1000
ID_TIMER1 equ 1001

.data
ClassName db "SimpleWinClass",0
AppName  db "System Time v 1.1",0
FontName db "script",0
timeFormat db "HH':'mm':'ss tt"
dbZulu db "Zulu Time",0
dbLocal db "Local Time",0
dbText db "BEDTIME!!!!!",0
dbCaption db "ALERT",0
dbAlarmTime db "02:05:00 AM",0
.data?
hInstance HINSTANCE ?
CommandLine LPSTR ?
ThreadID DWORD ?
Rect  RECT <?>
TestString db ?
TestString2 db ?
strucTime SYSTEMTIME <?>

.code

start:
invoke ExitProcess,0

WndProc proc hWnd:HWND, uMsg:UINT, wParam:WPARAM, lParam:LPARAM
   LOCAL hdc:HDC
   LOCAL ps:PAINTSTRUCT
   LOCAL hfont:HFONT

   .IF uMsg==WM_DESTROY
                  invoke KillTimer,hWnd,ID_TIMER
                               invoke KillTimer,hWnd, ID_TIMER1
                               invoke PostQuitMessage,NULL
                  xor eax,eax


                 .ELSEIF uMsg==WM_CREATE
                               invoke SetTimer, hWnd,1, 1000, 0
                               invoke SetTimer, hWnd,2, 990, 0
                               
                                xor eax,eax
                .ELSEIF uMsg==WM_TIMER
      .if wParam==1
                                invoke GetTimeFormat, 0, TIME_FORCE24HOURFORMAT, 0, ADDR timeFormat, ADDR TestString, 11
                                jmp alarmtest
      .endif
    .endif

WndProc endp
alarmtest:
invoke CompareString,LOCALE_USER_DEFAULT,NORM_IGNORECASE,TestString,9,dbAlarmTime,9
.if EAX==2
jmp alert
.endif
ret
alert:
invoke MessageBox, NULL,dbText,dbCaption,MB_OK
ret
end start

[killdash9]

wow folks, thanks for the quick response.

UAC shouldn't be an issue, I'm on XP home and running as the admin. 

On a lark, I virus scanned it.  It came back infected with PSW.ldpinch.  Would that cause this issue?

Any suggestions?  Assuming i'm not actually infected (which is highly likely because when I remove the Comparestring commands it runs fine)

[dedndave]

possibly your AV program has a lock on a file or something
of course, you might actually be infected - who knows
that makes it hard for us to give any good advice   :P

[killdash9]

Ok.  I sorted it out.  I think.

AVG apparently thinks something i did is trojan materiel. 

I excepted the file from the scan and ran it.  after a few tweeks it works as planned.

Has anyone run across this while programming?  Dedn?

[killdash9]

one last update.  i submitted the file to http://virusscan.jotti.org/  and it scanned it.  only AVG reported the infection.... rrrgggg

[dedndave]

oh yah - several   :bg

http://www.masm32.com/board/index.php?board=52.0

this one is just for AVG

http://www.masm32.com/board/index.php?topic=9699.0

[Tedd]

Guys, seriously? I leave you alone for a short while, and this is what happens?! ::)


killdash9:
When you reference a string, you give a pointer to it, not the contents of the string itself.
So the correct form is actually:

invoke CompareString,LOCALE_USER_DEFAULT,NORM_IGNORECASE,ADDR TestString,9,ADDR dbAlarmTime,9

The same for the messagebox..