Registering a dll ?

[Mike99]

What is the difference between registering a .dll by doing this:
regsvr32 <path & filename of the dll

Versus doing this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32]
"vidc.iv32"="ir32_32.dll"

 

[logicearth]

How can I tell whether a DLL has been registered? - The Old New Thing - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

 

[Mike99]

Thank you for the link. I read it a couple times but do not understand a lot of it. Also, as the title states, it's about how can you tell if a dll has been registered. While that may be important to know it does not tell me what the difference is between using the two methods I mentioned. I very seldom get into the register but do remember using each of these methods once. I just don't know when to use either one and/or if it makes any difference.

 

[logicearth]

The difference between the two methods is dependent upon the DLL, I assumed you would be able to unserstand that once reading the article, that regsvr32 only runs a function within the DLL that does the actual installation/registration which could be anything. Meaning, the DLL could require more then setting a registry key to function.

 

[Mike99]

As mentioned, I don't understand a lot of the article. You're assuming I know a lot about this topic but I have no idea what "only runs a function within the DLL" means.

If there was a reference to the second method I missed it but will re-read everything again.

 

[logicearth]

Relevant section near the top of the article.

...the DLL merely provides two functions for regsvr32 to call, one for registration (DllRegisterServer) and another for unregistration (DllUnregisterServer). All the regsvr32 function does is call those functions.

How those functions perform their registration and unregistration is not specified. Most of the time, those functions merely write some registry settings, but the DllRegisterServer is not limited to that...

If you don't understand this, then the best advice is to leave it alone.