Here is the relevant code... it displays the window, but no menu WNDCLASSEX winclass; HWND hWnd; MSG msg; winclass.cbSize = sizeof(WNDCLASSEX); winclass.style = CS_DBLCLKS / CS_OWNDC / CS_HREDRAW / CS_VREDRAW ; winclass.lpfnWndProc = WndProc; winclass.cbClsExtra = 0; winclass.cbWndExtra = 0; winclass.hInstance = hInstance; winclass.hIcon = LoadIcon(NULL, IDI_APPLICATION); winclass.hCursor = LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_ARROW); winclass.hbrBackground = GetStockObject(LTGRAY_BRUSH); winclass.lpszMenuName = NULL; // "MAINMENU"; winclass.lpszClassName = WINDOW_CLASS_NAME; winclass.hIconSm = LoadIcon(NULL, IDI_APPLICATION); if (!RegisterClassEx(&winclass)) return(0); if (! (hWnd = CreateWindowEx(NULL, WINDOW_CLASS_NAME, "Basic Window with a Menu", WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW / WS_VISIBLE, 0, 0, 400, 400, NULL, NULL, hInstance, NULL) ) ) return (0); HMENU hMenu = LoadMenu(hInstance, "MAINMENU"); SetMenu(hWnd, hMenu); As I said, this will display the window, but not the menu. I do have menu.h and menu.rc with the appropriate definitions in them. Any help would be greatly appreciated

At this line:
Add MAKEINTRESOURCE if you are using symbolic ID''s

winclass.lpszMenuName = MAKEINTRESOURCE(MAINMENU);

I had the same problem as you and this fixed it .
Casper

Oooooops,
I don''t have my code in front of me but I think you put quotes around the MAINMENU.

well, I didn''t use #define to make an numerical representation of the "MainMenu". I used a string literal, alas, I shall give it a try.

Nope, didn''t work :/