[RESOLVED] Use ActiveX DLL without installing an application

[GGJohn]

Hello!
Is it possible to use ActiveX controls and dynamic libraries without installing an application, by simply running EXE file?

Thank you!

[Arjay]

Sure, if the ActiveX controls and/or libraries are already present (and registered) on the system.

[GGJohn]

An if there are not? I want my application, which uses DLL and ActiveX consists only from one EXE

[Arjay]

Are you trying to bypass installation security by trying combine the dll, ActiveX control into the exe and then someone split this out and register the components without requiring admin permissions?

Can you clarify what you are trying to accomplish?

[GGJohn]

Actually in case of this application security itself may be a problem. If there is no permissions application may not be able to create temporary files, and may not be able to be installed, but still need to be run.

[Arjay]

In order to register an ActiveX control, you'll need permissions to install at a minimum.

[Zaccheus@Work]

You could include the ActiveX DLL in your EXE as a resource. At runtime you extract the DLL to a folder, register it, and then create the ActiveX control.

[Arjay]

You could include the ActiveX DLL in your EXE as a resource. At runtime you extract the DLL to a folder, register it, and then create the ActiveX control.

You'll still need permissions to make registry entries.

To the OP... why all the secretism? Why not just create a setup program and install the app the normal (and recommended) way?

[nelo]

Actually in case of this application security itself may be a problem. If there is no permissions application may not be able to create temporary files, and may not be able to be installed, but still need to be run.

Maybe I'm missing something here...but are you saying the application may not be able to be installed but still it needs to be run? I don't see how that would work...

[Zaccheus@Work]

You'll still need permissions to make registry entries.

Yes, of course you would.

[GGJohn]

Yesterday I found BoxedApp Packer. This utility helps to create an app, which using ActiveX controls and DLLs directly from memory buffer without extracting it to temp directory, so there is no install permissions needed. Looks like the problem is solved.

[Arjay]

Yesterday I found BoxedApp Packer. This utility helps to create an app, which using ActiveX controls and DLLs directly from memory buffer without extracting it to temp directory, so there is no install permissions needed. Looks like the problem is solved.

So why can't you just install the app and its dependencies the normal way using a setup program?

[GGJohn]

There may be no permission for installation of the app. But I still needed to run it anyway

[Arjay]

Without the proper permissions, you won't be able to write to the registry so that means you won't be able to register the ActiveX controls. And without registration, COM won't be able to load the ActiveX object, so even if BoxedApp can combine the components into one exe, it still won't work.

Why some folks spent so much time circumventing security is beyond me.

[_UE_]

Without the proper permissions, you won't be able to write to the registry so that means you won't be able to register the ActiveX controls. And without registration, COM won't be able to load the ActiveX object, so even if BoxedApp can combine the components into one exe, it still won't work.

BoxedApp writes registry settings into memory, not real registry. Please read the product's description carefully.

Why some folks spent so much time circumventing security is beyond me.