How to handle handles in vb6, differences during dev and when compiled

[rikdol]

Thanks for the reply. This was the first thing I tested. But then I was not convinced it would 'simulate' a proper crash, now I know differently. And running a compiled app will indeed close any handles I may not have closed. So restarting the application will grant me access to the device.

But why is this not taking place from within the IDE? isn't VB6 in fact a running process on it's own in which I start the same application?
If the program ends within the IDE, deliberately or not, the handle isn't closed. not unless I restart VB6.exe

If I try to close the handle during form load, I can't . Is this because I'm actually starting a different process from within the IDE?

Restarting the IDE is needed to re-gain control of the device that I didn't close before.

Why can't I close the handle to the device if I do a restart in between?