Embedded Visual C++

What works

Nothing.

What does not

Installation doesn't start. Dialog says 'Your operating system is not supported by eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0. This product requires Microsoft Windows 2000 or above. This installation cannot continue.'

Workarounds

What was not tested

Everything else.

Hardware tested

Graphics:

• GPU:
• Driver:

Additional Comments

­Because bug 5322 will proba­bly stand a long time, I present another method.

­1.) Save the following snippet to a text file, for example "vc6-installer-fix":­

set $x=0x410000
set $end=0x420000
while(*++$x != 0x07B0B18B && $x < $end)
end
if $x != $end
set *(int*) $x = 0x5BC0335E
set *(int*)($x+4) = 0x900004C2
end
handle SIGSEGV pass nostop noprint
handle SIGTRAP nopass nostop noprint
cont

2.) run the following command, assuming you saved the snippet to "vc6-installer-fix":

$ winedbg --gdb setup.exe < vc6-installer-fix

NOTE: If the installer spawns a sub-installer that crashes due to this bug, you must first run the main installer and then attach to sub-installer with debugger.

This can be done in automated way (assuming the main installer has already started sub-installer):

­$ winedbg --gdb $(( 16#$(winedbg --command "info proc" | grep your-sub-installer-process-name | cut -f 2 -d " ") )) < vc6-installer-fix­

It tells winedbg to query process ids, filters out the target process, converts the PID to decimal and then starts winedbg in gdb proxy mode, attaching to target process and executing patch script.

This should work for all VC6 installers and even Embedded Visual C++ 4.x ones.

Basically it starts the installer under control of a debugger and the works around bug 5322 by in-memory patching execution flow.

NOTE: This method is not recommended for the average user!

Note: Use the following CD key when installing this software: TRT7H-KD36T-FRH8D-6QH8P-VFJHQ

(from Microsoft Download page)

Due to bugs in installer you might need to correct the "folder for common files" name: "C:\Windows CE Tools"