In this task, we ask you to elaborate the sentence without changing its general meaning. You can do so by explaining further the input sentence, using more precise wording, adding qualifiers and auxiliary information etc.
Q: Handles thus could n't be larger than 14 bits , so 16-bit programs with a GDI handle larger than 16384 would crash .
A: 
As a result , the actual handle can not be larger than 14 bits and consequently 16-bit applications that happen to be served a handle larger than 16384 by the GDI system crash and terminate with an error message .