FIX: OutOfMemoryException exception when you use a graphics object to paint in a .NET Framework 3.5-based Windows Forms application

View products that this article applies to.

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

You create a Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5-based graphics-intensive application on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
The application uses the graphics device interface (GDI).
You create a graphics object, and then use it to paint.

In this scenario, you may experience an OutOfMemoryException exception. Additionally, you receive the following error message:

Exception type: System.OutOfMemoryException
Message: Out of memory.

When you debug this issue, you receive a stack trace that resembles the following:

at System.Drawing.Graphics.FromHdcInternal(IntPtr hdc)

at System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs.get_Graphics()

Note The exception indicates that the system is out of memory. However, this is incorrect. The system is actually not out of memory. You can confirm this by using Windows System Resource Manager.

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Cause

This issue occurs because the garbage collector releases a handle to a device context (HDC) object if the corresponding graphic object is not explicitly disposed of. If the HDC object is reused on any other thread at the same time, the garbage collector's finalization method may fail, and raise an OutOfMemoryException exception.

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Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft website:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed on a computer that is running one of the following operating systems:

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Restart requirement

After you apply this hotfix, you do not have to restart the computer.

File information

The global version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7 SP1

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
System.design.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,062,656	31-Jan-2012	23:36	x86
System.windows.forms.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,025,792	31-Jan-2012	23:36	x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 SP1 and of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
System.design.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,062,656	31-Jan-2012	23:32	x86
System.windows.forms.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,025,792	31-Jan-2012	23:32	x86
System.design.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,062,656	31-Jan-2012	23:36	x86
System.windows.forms.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,025,792	31-Jan-2012	23:36	x86

For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows 7 SP1 and of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
System.design.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,062,656	31-Jan-2012	23:25	x86
System.windows.forms.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,025,792	31-Jan-2012	23:25	x86
System.design.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,062,656	31-Jan-2012	23:36	x86
System.windows.forms.dll	2.0.50727.5718	5,025,792	31-Jan-2012	23:36	x86

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Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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References

For more information about the painting and drawing functions of the Microsoft Windows graphics device interface (GDI), visit the following MSDN website:

Information about the painting and drawing functions of GDI

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