Why Does My C# Multi-threaded Application Get 'Attempted to Read or Write Protected Memory' Errors, and How Can I Fix Them?

Diagnosing "Attempted to Read or Write Protected Memory" Errors

The enigmatic "Attempted to read or write protected memory. This is often an indication that other memory is corrupt" error can be a persistent nuisance in C# development, seemingly occurring randomly and without any apparent context. To unravel this puzzling issue, it's crucial to understand what triggers the error in the first place.

The error originates when the application attempts to access a memory location that it is not authorized to read or write. This can occur when:

• The application is attempting to bypass memory protection mechanisms implemented by the operating system or .NET runtime.
• A memory corruption has occurred elsewhere in the application, leading to the corruption of metadata or pointer values.

In the case described in the question, the error occurs sporadically in a multi-threaded server application, making it even more challenging to pinpoint the exact cause. However, one potential culprit is the change in the Build Platform from x86 to Any CPU.

When the application is compiled for Any CPU, it targets both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) architectures. However, some external libraries or APIs, such as the MapInfo DLL mentioned in the answer, may be incompatible with Any CPU configurations.

By switching the Build Platform back to x86, the application is explicitly targeting the 32-bit architecture, ensuring compatibility with the external library. This simple change eliminates the error, resolving the frustrating memory corruption issue.

While this specific solution may not apply to all instances of the "Attempted to read or write protected memory" error, it serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of considering external dependencies and memory protection mechanisms when developing complex multi-threaded applications. By carefully examining the circumstances surrounding the error, developers can often find the root cause and implement the appropriate remedies to prevent these elusive issues from disrupting their applications.

The above is the detailed content of Why Does My C# Multi-threaded Application Get 'Attempted to Read or Write Protected Memory' Errors, and How Can I Fix Them?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!