Error message when you pass a variant between a COM client and a COM server in Windows: "0x800706F7 (The stub received bad data)"

Applies To
Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Home Basic Windows 7 Home Premium Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Starter Windows 7 Ultimate Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Enterprise Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Ultimate Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 Standard

Symptoms

Consider the following scenarios on a computer that is running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2008:

  • You pass a variant from a COM client to a COM Server. The variant contains a single user-defined data type (UDT) or a SafeArray of UDTs.
  • You pass a variant from a COM Server to a COM client. The variant contains a single user-defined data type (UDT) or a SafeArray of UDTs.

In both scenarios, the variant is not passed successfully. Additionally, you receive the following error message:

Note

0x800706F7 (The stub received bad data)

Cause

This problem occurs because of an error in the Oleaut32.dll file. Because of the error, you cannot marshal UDTs that are wrapped in a variant.

Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http:⁠//support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

You must apply this hotfix on a computer that is running one of the following operating systems:

  • Windows Vista Service Pack (SP1)
  • Windows Vista Service Pack (SP2)
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2008 SP2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows 7

For more information about how to obtain a Windows Vista service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

935791 How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack

For more information about how to obtain a Windows Server 2008 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

968849 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2008

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English 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.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

Important Windows Vista hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows Vista" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows Vista" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

    Version Product SR_Level Service branch
    6.0.600
    1.
    22xxx    		 Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP1 LDR
    6.0.600
    2.
    22xxx    		 Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 LDR

  • Service Pack 1 is integrated into the release version of Windows Server 2008.

  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista" section. MUM files and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6001.22544 563,200 19-Oct-2009 14:10 x86
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6002.22247 563,712 19-Oct-2009 13:50 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6001.22544 847,872 19-Oct-2009 15:20 x64
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6002.22247 846,848 19-Oct-2009 13:47 x64
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6001.22544 563,200 19-Oct-2009 14:10 x86
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6002.22247 563,712 19-Oct-2009 13:50 x86

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6001.22544 1,987,072 19-Oct-2009 14:15 IA-64
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6002.22247 1,987,072 19-Oct-2009 13:42 IA-64
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6001.22544 563,200 19-Oct-2009 14:10 x86
Oleaut32.dll 6.0.6002.22247 563,712 19-Oct-2009 13:50 x86

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 file information notes

Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

    Version Product SR_Level Service branch
    6.1.760
    0.
    20xxx    		 Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM LDR

  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2 and for Windows 7" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

                  

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

                    
                  

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Oleaut32.dll 6.1.7600.20554 571,904 21-Oct-2009 06:05 x86

                  

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

                    
                  

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Oleaut32.dll 6.1.7600.20554 861,184 21-Oct-2009 06:37 x64

                  

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Oleaut32.dll 6.1.7600.20554 2,039,296 21-Oct-2009 04:54 IA-64

                  

Status

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

More Information

For more information about marshaling details, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:

http:⁠//msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms692621%28VS.85%29.aspx For more information about user-defined data types (UDTs), visit the following MSDN Web sites:

http:⁠//msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms221210.aspx

http:⁠//msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms221453.aspx