PRB: "Attempt to Delete Object Owned by System" Error

The information in this article applies to:

  The Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), included with:

    - Microsoft C/C++ version 7.0
    - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.5, 1.51, and
      1.52

SYMPTOMS

When an application passes the handle associated with a CBrush object to the AfxRegisterWndClass() function, an attempt to delete the CBrush object fails and Microsoft Windows generates the following message:

   err MYAPP GDI: GDI: Attempt to delete object owned by system
   Fatal Exit Code = 0x8400

CAUSE

The AfxRegisterWndClass() function registers a window class. When an application registers a window class, the system takes ownership of any resources specified for the class. Windows deletes the objects when the application terminates or if the application calls the UnregisterClass() function to remove the class. The fatal error above occurs when the application attempts to delete the brush while it is owned by the system (in other words, while the window class is still registered). The destructor for the CBrush class calls DeleteObject() and causes this error.

RESOLUTION

There are two methods to work around this situation, as follows:

• Call the underlying Windows API function, ::CreateSolidBrush(), to create a brush and specify that brush handle in the call to AfxRegisterWndClass(). Do not associate a CBrush object with the brush handle.
• Create the CBrush object and specify it in the AfxRegisterWndClass() call as before. Before deleting the CBrush object, call the Detach() member function to detach the brush handle from the CBrush object. The sample code below demonstrates this method.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The following code demonstrates using the Detach() member function:

   brush = new CBrush;
   // initialize brush
   // call AfxRegisterWndClass with brush
   brush->Detach();
   delete brush;