[RESOLVED] On Screen Keyboard Error On 64 bit Windows 7

By using visual studio 2010, I have problem calling up on screen keyboard using line below for Windows 7 64 bit.

WinExec("OSK.EXE", SW_SHOW);

However, it is working fine on windows XP 32 bit. Any idea how to call up on screen keyboard for 64 bit windows?

Code:

---


int _tmain(int argc, TCHAR* argv[], TCHAR* envp[])
{
        int nRetCode = 0;

        HMODULE hModule = ::GetModuleHandle(NULL);

        if (hModule != NULL)
        {
                // initialize MFC and print and error on failure
                if (!AfxWinInit(hModule, NULL, ::GetCommandLine(), 0))
                {
                        // TODO: change error code to suit your needs
                        _tprintf(_T("Fatal Error: MFC initialization failed\n"));
                        nRetCode = 1;
                }
                else
                {
                        // TODO: code your application's behavior here.

                        WinExec("OSK.EXE", SW_SHOW); //to call up on screen keyboard
                }
        }
        else
        {
                // TODO: change error code to suit your needs
                _tprintf(_T("Fatal Error: GetModuleHandle failed\n"));
                nRetCode = 1;
        }

        return nRetCode;
}

---

A 64-bit Windows system prevents 32-bit applications from accessing System32 directory. For that purpose, it redirects to SysWOW64.
You can (temporarily) disable that redirection by calling Wow64DisableWow64FsRedirection.

Example

Code:

---

    PVOID pOldValue = NULL;
    Wow64DisableWow64FsRedirection(&pOldValue);
           
    STARTUPINFO si = {0};
    si.cb = sizeof(STARTUPINFO);
    PROCESS_INFORMATION pi = {0};
    bRet = ::CreateProcess(_T("C:\\Windows\\System32\\OSK.EXE"),
        NULL, NULL, NULL, FALSE, 0, NULL, NULL, &si, &pi);

    Wow64RevertWow64FsRedirection(pOldValue);

---

Additional notes

• Although it may work, WinExec is a 16-bit legacy function. You should use CreateProcess instead.
• The above example is intentionally made as simple as possible. It doesn't handle errors, uses a hard-coded path and does not check if the system is 32 or 64-bit version. You have to complete that yourself.

See also

• MSDN: File System Redirector
• MSDN: Wow64DisableWow64FsRedirection function

Thanks ovidiucucu, I tried your code and it manage to call up the on screen keyboard.
Also, I did try the WinExec using code below, it works as well.
Appreciate your help on this.

Code:

---

  PVOID OldValue = NULL;

if( Wow64DisableWow64FsRedirection(&OldValue) )
 {
    WinExec("OSK.EXE", SW_SHOW);
 }

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