FIX: Unable to Locate URLMON.DLL on Windows NT 3.51 (154466)


The information in this article applies to:

  • The Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), when used with:
    • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 4.2
    • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 4.2
    • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 5.0
    • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 5.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming) 4.0
This article was previously published under Q154466

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to run an application built with Visual C++ 4.2 and 5.0, an error may be reported that the Urlmon.dll cannot be found. After this error, the application aborts.

This error occurs only under the following circumstances:

  • The operating system is Windows NT 3.51.
  • The executable is a debug build.
  • The project is statically linked to MFC library.
  • The project has enabled OLE functionality (directly or indirectly includes afxole.h or afxdisp.h).

CAUSE

The Urlmon.dll is the DLL that supports the URL moniker. It is a part of the ActiveX SDK. The MFC library that ships with Visual C++ 4.2 and 5.0 uses this DLL for much of the Internet functionality added in Visual C++ 4.2. Urlmon.dll is not supported on Windows NT 3.51. Therefore, the DLL is not installed to your Windows NT 3.51 System32 directory.

MFC applications that target Windows NT 3.51 cannot use the URL moniker SDK functions. However, an application that meets all of the criteria listed in the SYMPTOMS section of this article but does not use these functions will still attempt to load the DLL. Therefore, the run-time error occurs.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, you must link the debug build of the application with the MFC DLL. The release build can continue to link statically to MFC. To link the debug build of the application to the MFC DLL, select Project Settings on the Build menu in Visual C++. Select Debug Project in the Settings For list, and select "Use MFC in a Shared Dll(mfc42(d).dll)" on the General Settings tab.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Visual C++ version 6.0 for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

Visual C++ 4.2 and 5.0 ship the Urlmon.dll as part of the self-extracting installation files Axdist.exe and Wintdist.exe. This is covered in the \msdev\redist\redistrb.wri file.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/10/2003
Keywords:kbBug kbfix kbNoUpdate kbVC600fix KB154466
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