c++ - CStrings and pointers: Heap corruption when trying to delete a character array -

i've exhausted myself googling this, haven't been able find clear answer or myself understand going wrong. part of homework assignment, i'm trying dynamically allocate memory character array (ie. cstring) , assign char pointer variable point @ it, delete allocated memory before end program. i'm wrapping head around pointers suspect of understanding of what's happening behind scenes not correct, , i'm ending visual studio 2010 giving me heap corruption breakpoints.

here's simplified version of i'm trying (my comments indicate think i'm doing):

char *chptr = new char[10]; // create char pointer type variable, , point @ memory allocated char array of length 10 chptr = "september";        // assign 9 characters (+1 null terminator character) char array cout << chptr;              // prints "september", finds null terminator , stops printing delete [] chptr;            // causes heap corruption -> don't know why. shouldn't delete array of memory chptr pointing at? 

• i've tried using delete chptr well, same heap corruption result.
• i've tried manually assigning null terminator end of array chptr[9] = '\0'; , results in heap corruption. why? can access individual characters within array when things cout << chptr[7]; etc without problems...

what's confusing works without error:

char *chptr = new char[10]; // above, create char pointer type , point @ memory allocated char array of length 10 delete chptr;               // doesn't give error! 

it seems initializing array assigning value breaking things me somehow.

can me out?

this source of problem:

char *chptr = new char[10]; // create char pointer type variable, , point @ memory allocated char array of length 10 chptr = "september";   

first allocate heap memory on chptr , allocate non-heap memory (data segment memory, if precise) assigning non-heap char array value of "september" on it.

you try delete non-heap memory , error get.

use strcpy(chptr,"september") or better : lose c , use std::string.