aviator

I meant on Windows XP/2003 Extend Kit. Actually Kernell32.dll from Extended XP works with Ntdll.dll from XPSP3 QFE POSReady update (what I called "blackwingcat's Ntdll.dll" is such one, I guess) but not with version from SP3. The newest Extended XP can work with both SP2 and SP3, the problem is that its installer doesn't contain Ntdll.dll, so if one skips installing additional updates it's needed to update Ntdll.dll manually. Never mind the conception, more complex programs still don't work and the most important among them are newer browsers. Nice that you don't give up, I'm very interested to see what you will do next.

Well I don't know much about manifest files but this is quite simple, one example with the standard header, for Kernel32.dll: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?> <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"> <assemblyIdentity version="1.0.0.0" name="redirector" type="win32" /> <file name="kernel32.dll"> </file> </assembly> If you need redirection for more system DLLs just put similar lines below the line for Kernel32.dll. So the file should have the full name of appropriate program with extension "manifest" at the end and it should be put in program's folder. You can also make a file with the similar name but with extension "local" (content is not important, may be empty) but it seems it's not needed in XP. (In Win98 you don't need ".manifest" file but you need ".local" I think). In this way I use Kernel32.dll and some other DLLs from One-Core-Api just for certain programs, without need to install them. (If you want just to use redirection to Kernel32.dll from Extended XP it won’t work, I guess because Ntdll.dll should be loaded at the boot time and this Kernel32.dll works only with blackwingcat’s Ntdll.dll from Extended XP.)

BestFitDemo works for me. Sometimes problems with Win7 compatibility can be solved by installing Extended XP (makes possible to start some newer EXEs, sometimes using FCWin2K.exe helps too) and then by adding necessary files from One-Core-Api extension. (I don't recommend installing O-C-A completely since it may cause problems with some programs which work otherwise. Also I had some problems with Extended XP update so I cannot recommend it, and in case you don't use SP3 you should try installing previous version WindowsXP-KB3126593-v3-x86-ENU.exe with SP3 registry trick...) Assuming you installed Extended XP, from One-Core-Api you need wrapper Kernel32.dll (in your program's folder) with Ntext.dll and Kernelex.dll - this one is nothing but renamed standalone Kernel32.dll (you should use Dibya's version from Extended XP), Ucrtbase.dll with some Api-ms-win DLLs (it's easier to copy them all to your program's folder or to Windows\System32, or you can use separate installer; maybe even DLLs from Win7 would work). In your program's folder you also need text file BestFitDemo.exe.manifest with a line for Kernel32.dll what will redirect your program to use Kernel32 from its own folder instead of that one from System32. (That's the simplest way, no need to modyfy any DLL or EXE). (Instead of full installation you can just manually replace some system files with versions from Extended XP package, at least Kernel32.exe, Ntdll.dll and Msvcrt.dll.)

The newest Extended XP installer requires XPSP3 QFE POSReady updates which I don't want to install, but if I skip them (Dibya sorry for "hacking" : ) I cannot boot my system since the installer doesn’t contain appropriate Ntdll.dll, which can be also found in the previous version or in blackwingcat’s Windows XP/2003 Extend Kit. Just to mention that I had some problems with the newest Extended XP update and some XP compatible programs - Firefox ESR 52 (Kernel32.dll? Shell32.dll) and SumatraPDF, and with some portable ThinApp applications (Advapi32.dll). Dibya I wonder why you insist on SP3 and updates. I've tested Extended XP without them a lot (can be installed using well-known SP3 registry "trick") and never noticed a single problem, although staring non-compatible applications may be risky (in my experience after two successful starts of a program it can be considered safe). I’d like to say here one THANK YOU to Skulltrail, blackwingcat, Dibya, TuMaGoNx and all other diligent and dedicated guys who made XP's old days more bearable! I have many programs installed, tons of settings, some old software simply doesn't work on newer Windows versions, and they are more restrictive so I don't plan to stop using the best OS MS has ever made. (Although, believe or not, some stripped Win7 versions behave the same in terms of performances and maybe need even a few MB's less to work.)

The same here. Thank you for the hard work.