Deleting or replacing dlls on windows 7

ftlog · 19 Aug 2013

Hi all,

I have some dlls on windows 7 which are not working properly, so I was hoping to replace them with dlls from the XP version of the application I am trying to get working (as they work fine on the XP version). So far simply replacing the dlls is not working because deleting or replacing those on windows 7 requires certain 'permissions' (and since I'm an administrator, this shouldn't be a problem, but it is). I have tried taking ownership of the dlls but instead am just asked for permission from myself without an option to give it. I have also tried registering and unregistering dlls accordingly, which does not work. I am now looking to place the old dlls into a new dll directory folder and then using VBA, get it so that the reference in the excel sheet is pointed to the directory in which these dlls are now placed. From then I can just register and unregister accordingly, hopefully. However when I try to change the reference, I get told that I cannot add the reference to the specified file. Does anyone know what this means and whether I am doing this completely wrong? If you have any advice or another solution, please let me know.

mitchell65 · 19 Aug 2013

Hi and welcome to the Forum.
I would not recommend putting a DLL from an XP version of Windows into a Windows 7 installation.
First off, how do you know the DLL's are not "working properly"?
Second, Where are the DLL's in question located?
Third, Have you run sfc /scannow?

ftlog · 19 Aug 2013

mitchell65 said:

Hi and welcome to the Forum.
I would not recommend putting a DLL from an XP version of Windows into a Windows 7 installation.
First off, how do you know the DLL's are not "working properly"?
Second, Where are the DLL's in question located?
Third, Have you run sfc /scannow?

Thank you for the welcome and the reply!

I used dependency walker to compare the program on XP and on windows 7. The program on windows 7 is in the development stage and has been upgraded, but I am carrying out the testing for it now. The dependency walker showed certain DLLs which were updated had modules missing and it was suggested to me by others on my team to replace these with the ones from XP which are definitely working.

The DLLs are mainly located in c:\windows\system32

I haven't tried sfc /scannow but I just tried it now and it's saying 'Another servicing or repair operation is currently running. Wait for this to finish and run sfc again' - any idea what could be running and how to stop it while I want to try this sfc /scannow thing?

Thank you!

Btw, your avatar is amazing!

mitchell65 · 19 Aug 2013

When you say

I used dependency walker to compare the program on XP and on windows 7. The program on windows 7 is in the development stage and has been upgraded, but I am carrying out the testing for it now.

What program are you talking about?
I would not recommend touching anything in the system32 folder! This is a most important folder in the Windows Operating system. This is why Windows will not allow you to edit the files therein.
You do not need third party programs to check your system. Windows 7 has enough built in to cover all your needs. It is probably this "Dependency walker" that is stopping SFC /scannow from running.

ftlog · 19 Aug 2013

mitchell65 said:

When you say

I used dependency walker to compare the program on XP and on windows 7. The program on windows 7 is in the development stage and has been upgraded, but I am carrying out the testing for it now.

What program are you talking about?
I would not recommend touching anything in the system32 folder! This is a most important folder in the Windows Operating system. This is why Windows will not allow you to edit the files therein.
You do not need third party programs to check your system. Windows 7 has enough built in to cover all your needs. It is probably this "Dependency walker" that is stopping SFC /scannow from running.

It's an internal program in my company, so I can't give too many details. It's the one that I am trying to get working on windows 7 but won't run with these weird DLLs.
Dependency walker shouldn't be an issue though - it's a common program and is not currently running...
But if the DLLs aren't acting correctly, what else can I do?

mitchell65 · 19 Aug 2013

ftlog said:

It's an internal program in my company, so I can't give too many details.
Dependency walker shouldn't be an issue though - it's a common program and is not currently running...
But if the DLLs aren't acting correctly, what else can I do?

So is this "secret" program compatible with Windows 7?
Are you sure Dependency Walker is not running in the back ground, if you are sure how did you check that?

ftlog · 19 Aug 2013

mitchell65 said:

ftlog said:

It's an internal program in my company, so I can't give too many details.
Dependency walker shouldn't be an issue though - it's a common program and is not currently running...
But if the DLLs aren't acting correctly, what else can I do?

So is this "secret" program compatible with Windows 7?
Are you sure Dependency Walker is not running in the back ground, if you are sure how did you check that?

Haha, sorry it's so 'secret'! And it's not yet compatible with windows 7 - that's what I'm (unsuccessfully) trying to get done! I need it to work on windows 7 but so far have just been given an upgraded version of the XP program and have been told to get it to work!
I have to open up dependency walker to get it to show me the module tree of the DLLs...and it's not open in task manager... I assumed that would be sufficient to decide if it was enough, haha, or am I incredibly wrong?
Oh, I just tried doing the sfc /scannow thing again and it's finally working - I did just close a bunch of things, so it must have been one of those. What should I hope to get back from this scan when it's done?

mitchell65 · 19 Aug 2013

ftlog said:

mitchell65 said:

ftlog said:

It's an internal program in my company, so I can't give too many details.
Dependency walker shouldn't be an issue though - it's a common program and is not currently running...
But if the DLLs aren't acting correctly, what else can I do?

So is this "secret" program compatible with Windows 7?
Are you sure Dependency Walker is not running in the back ground, if you are sure how did you check that?

Haha, sorry it's so 'secret'! And it's not yet compatible with windows 7 - that's what I'm (unsuccessfully) trying to get done! I need it to work on windows 7 but so far have just been given an upgraded version of the XP program and have been told to get it to work!
I have to open up dependency walker to get it to show me the module tree of the DLLs...and it's not open in task manager... I assumed that would be sufficient to decide if it was enough, haha, or am I incredibly wrong?
Oh, I just tried doing the sfc /scannow thing again and it's finally working - I did just close a bunch of things, so it must have been one of those. What should I hope to get back from this scan when it's done?

Well now I know what we are talking about you can forget sfc /scnnow for the time being though it's a good idea to run it from time to time to keep your system running well. I think what you are trying to do is to re write some of the programming of this softawre. That is totally beyond me and I would say it is a job for the original author of the software, certainly not a job for the faint hearted.
Personally I have to say I wouldn't know where to start. Sorry. One of the programmers on this Board may see this but it is a bit of a long shot, I think!

ftlog · 19 Aug 2013

mitchell65 said:

ftlog said:

mitchell65 said:

So is this "secret" program compatible with Windows 7?
Are you sure Dependency Walker is not running in the back ground, if you are sure how did you check that?

Haha, sorry it's so 'secret'! And it's not yet compatible with windows 7 - that's what I'm (unsuccessfully) trying to get done! I need it to work on windows 7 but so far have just been given an upgraded version of the XP program and have been told to get it to work!
I have to open up dependency walker to get it to show me the module tree of the DLLs...and it's not open in task manager... I assumed that would be sufficient to decide if it was enough, haha, or am I incredibly wrong?
Oh, I just tried doing the sfc /scannow thing again and it's finally working - I did just close a bunch of things, so it must have been one of those. What should I hope to get back from this scan when it's done?

Well now I know what we are talking about you can forget sfc /scnnow for the time being thought its a good idea to run it from time to time to keep your system running well. I think what you are trying to do is to re write some of the programming of this softawre. That is totally beyond me and I would say it is a job for the original author of the software, certainly not a job for the faint hearted.
Personally I have to say I wouldn't know where to start.

Okay, well thank you for attempting to help! :) Would you by any chance know of another user I could message who may be able to help me? This is a rather old piece of software, so I am afraid I may be stuck trying to fix it and have no way of contacting the original author unfortunately...

mitchell65 · 19 Aug 2013

Here's a possible solution. Have you tried to install it in "Compatibility Mode" see here:
Make older programs run in this version of Windows
Another idea would be to set up VM Ware and install XP on a virtual PC. Then load your software on that. I have done this to use an older scanner that there are no drivers for Windows 7. Works well!