WSANOTINITIALISED - 10093 (0x276D)

Technical Meaning

The WSANOTINITIALISED error code, with the numeric value 10093 (0x276D), indicates that either the application has not called the WSAStartup function or the call to WSAStartup failed. This error is specific to networking operations in Windows and is returned when an attempt is made to use a Winsock-based operation without initializing the Winsock library.

Error Details

The WSANOTINITIALISED error code is typically encountered during network programming using the Winsock API (Windows Sockets). The WSAStartup function must be called before any other Winsock functions can be used. This function initializes the Winsock library and retrieves the version of the Winsock DLL that the application will use.

Usage Context

This error code is relevant in scenarios where network operations are performed using the Winsock API. It is commonly encountered when an application attempts to perform a networking operation without first initializing the Winsock library through WSAStartup or if there was an issue with the initialization process.

Developer Interpretation

When encountering this error, developers should ensure that their application has correctly called WSAStartup before performing any network operations. The call to WSAStartup must be made at the beginning of the application's execution and passed a pointer to a WSADATA structure. If the function returns zero, it indicates successful initialization; otherwise, an error code is returned, such as 10093 (0x276D) for WSANOTINITIALISED.

Related Errors

• WSAEINVAL: Indicates that a parameter passed to a Winsock function was invalid. This could be related if the WSAStartup call failed due to an incorrect parameter.
• WSAENETDOWN: Indicates that the network subsystem has been shut down, which might occur after a successful WSAStartup but before any network operations are performed.

FAQ

Q: What does the WSANOTINITIALISED error mean?

A: The WSANOTINITIALISED error indicates that the application has not called WSAStartup or the call to WSAStartup failed. This is a prerequisite for using any Winsock-based networking functions.

Q: How can I resolve this issue?

A: Ensure that your application calls WSAStartup at the beginning of its execution and passes valid parameters. Check the return value from WSAStartup to ensure it returns zero, indicating successful initialization.

Summary

The WSANOTINITIALISED error code is a specific indication that the Winsock library has not been properly initialized before attempting network operations. Developers should always call WSAStartup at the start of their application and handle any return codes to ensure proper initialization and avoid this error.