Access Violation writing to a member variable

I am getting a access violation error when I run my program. I am using Visual C++ 2010. The compiler is giving me this error:

First-chance exception at 0x00291709 in RobotWars.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation writing location 0xcdcdcdcd.
Unhandled exception at 0x00291709 in RobotWars.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation writing location 0xcdcdcdcd.

I'm new, so this looks like Greek. My compiler is pointing to this code:

Code:

---

void GameDrawer::setLevel(Level* level)
{
        m_currentLevel = level;
}

---

The .h file for GameDrawer:

Code:

---

#ifndef GAMEDRAWER_H
#define GAMEDRAWER_H

#include "Level.h"
#include "Game.h"
#include "glut.h"


//The main drawer for the game, draws everything to the screen.
class GameDrawer
{

        Level* m_currentLevel;                        //the current level to draw

        //drawing functions
        void drawFloor();
        void drawCeiling();

public:

        GameDrawer();
        ~GameDrawer();
       
        void setLevel(Level* level);                        //sets the current level to draw
        void draw();                                                        //draws the current level/menu to the screen

};

#endif

---

The function that the compiler is pointing to is invoked in the Game object's constructor (with related function definitions):

Code:

---

Game::Game()
{
        m_currentLevelNum = 0;
        m_currentLevel = 0;
        createLevel(64,64);
}

void Game::createLevel(short w, short h)
{
        if (m_currentLevel)
                destroyLevel();

        m_currentLevel = new Level(w,h);
        m_drawer->setLevel(m_currentLevel);
}

void Game::destroyLevel()
{
        delete m_currentLevel;
        m_currentLevel = 0;
}

---

I can edit this post with more information as needed. I really don't know what could be causing this. Any help would be appreciated.

> First-chance exception at 0x00291709 in RobotWars.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation writing location 0xcdcdcdcd.
Win32 Debug CRT Heap Internals

CD is the pattern memory is filled with when it is first allocated. It means you have an uninitialised pointer, and you tried to dereference it.

Quote:

---

Access violation writing location 0xcdcdcdcd.

---

Access violation means that you're having trouble accessing memory. Take a look at the pointer. It looks like filler data, which tells me you're using uninitialized data somewhere.
My guess is that you've made a pointer to a GameDrawer object somewhere but haven't initialized it yet - ie you're calling a member function for an object that doesn't exist.

EDIT: Should probably refresh to see if someone else has replied when I let the edit window sit for 10 minutes. :)

Thanks for the clarification, I used to get this error alot, helps now that I know what it means.
Ok, another question. Access violation 0X00000000 means I am trying to write to a null pointer correct? I ask because, now I am getting this
error in the GameDrawer class, when I am trying to init a pointer. Here's the code.

Code:

---

GameDrawer::GameDrawer()
{
        setLevel(0);
}

void GameDrawer::setLevel(Level* level)
{
        m_currentLevel = level;
}

---

In that case you're most likely calling the method from a NULL pointer.

Yeah, that's what it was, I forgot to init a pointer to an object. Thanks for the help guys.

Just wanted to say THANK YOU for that helpful hint on initializing pointers. After several hours of wrestling with this problem, I was able to solve it in less than two minutes with your help.