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    explorer.dll. The specified module could not be found.

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    • Alan KilbornA
      Alan Kilborn @Carlos Zhang
      last edited by

      @Carlos-Zhang said in explorer.dll. The specified module could not be found.:

      Actually I have another laptop and npp w/ explorer plugin works just fine in it.
      So I copied the whole dir to this PC and the error happens.

      So are you sure all these “bittnesses” line up as well?

      Sounds like you are plugging and playing and trying a lot of things without a whole lot of knowledge about what you are doing.

      This is an okay thing to do…but when you do it this way it is going to be darn hard for someone else to follow truly what you’ve done and offer suggestions.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • PeterJonesP
        PeterJones @Carlos Zhang
        last edited by

        @Carlos-Zhang said in explorer.dll. The specified module could not be found.:

        1. Plugins > Open Plugins Folder: Nothing happened. File Manager did not open.

        Well, that’s a strange problem. I’ve never had that not work. I cannot imagine why Windows wouldn’t let Notepad++ launch Explorer. But whatever is preventing that might be the culprit behind why the plugin won’t work for you, too.

        1. I think it would work but I don’t want a fresh notepad++ because I have many settings in it.

        That’s the point.

        I didn’t say “throw away your old copy and start over”. I asked you to download a second, fresh copy, put into a directory like your Desktop, where I know you will have write permission, and see if it has the same problem or not. This was a temporary experiment which is quite useful in debugging a problem.

        If it doesn’t work in your normal c:\notepad++\ location with all your normal plugins and settings, but does work in ...\desktop\notepad++ with just the default plugins and settings, then we can narrow the problem to being in one of three places: either (1) there is something unique about the folder (Windows permissions, most likely); (2) one of your other plugins is interfering with this plugin; (3) one of your other settings is interfering with this plugin.

        If you try this experiment, we might be able to make progress. If you aren’t willing to help us help you, then I’m sorry that I won’t be much more help.

        Actually I have another laptop and npp w/ explorer plugin works just fine in it.
        So I copied the whole dir to this PC and the error happens.

        Like @Alan-Kilborn said, that could cause more problems than it solves.

        If you want to do a manual plugin installation, the better thing is to download again from the plugin’s official repository, making sure to keep track of 32bit (Explorer.zip) vs 64bit (Explorer_x64.zip)

        But, I can confirm that Windows Explorer says that the 32bit Explorer.dll is 218KB
        0281098b-0418-4fa1-8c30-e52739d5fc1d-image.png

        whereas the 64bit is 252KB
        907737f8-139a-496c-9462-8d8b02a5581c-image.png

        … so from the first-level approximation, you might have the right DLL

        BTW is the date of the dll correct? It looks the dll is modified when being installed.

        When the plugin installer downloads and unzips the DLL, it apparently changes the timestamp to when you installed it, rather than whatever the actual compilation date was.

        As you can see the dll is in the folder but somehow npp can’t see it.

        No. Notepad++ obviously sees the DLL: if Notepad++ couldn’t see the DLL, it wouldn’t try to load it and wouldn’t show an error.

        If you want any more help from us, you’re going to have to be willing to run the experiments we suggest. Otherwise, good luck.

        Carlos ZhangC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
        • Carlos ZhangC
          Carlos Zhang @PeterJones
          last edited by

          @PeterJones
          Of course I am willing to do the experiment.
          I extract the new 7z to the desktop and install the explorer plugin from plugin admin. And it can’t work either!
          Here is the debug info.

          Notepad++ v7.8.6 (32-bit)
          Build time : Apr 21 2020 - 15:17:06
          Path : C:\Users\Carlos\Desktop\npp.7.8.6.bin\notepad++.exe
          Admin mode : OFF
          Local Conf mode : ON
          OS Name : Windows 10 Enterprise (64-bit)
          OS Version : 1909
          OS Build : 18363.778
          Plugins : mimeTools.dll NppConverter.dll NppExport.dll

          I didn’t install mimeTools.dll NppConverter.dll NppExport.dll.
          Looks they are default plugins.
          Thanks.

          Carlos ZhangC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • Carlos ZhangC
            Carlos Zhang @Carlos Zhang
            last edited by

            I then install Compare and NppFtp plugins.
            They don’t have such issue.

            cmeriauxC EkopalypseE 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • cmeriauxC
              cmeriaux @Carlos Zhang
              last edited by

              @Carlos-Zhang you may try with notepad++ 64b portable edition.
              Don’t you have an antivirus that may block the dll loading ?

              cmeriauxC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • cmeriauxC
                cmeriaux @cmeriaux
                last edited by

                You may also try with admin privileges. Never knows…

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                • PeterJonesP
                  PeterJones
                  last edited by

                  @Carlos-Zhang ,

                  Thanks for running the experiment and giving the debug info.

                  And it can’t work either!

                  unfortunately, that doesn’t tell us what went wrong. Were there error messages? If so, screenshot them and include them, please. If no error messages, what exactly happened when you tried? Be as explicit as you can, telling us about every click or keystroke.

                  Carlos ZhangC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • EkopalypseE
                    Ekopalypse @Carlos Zhang
                    last edited by

                    @Carlos-Zhang

                    Could it be that it finds another explorer.dll first?

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • Carlos ZhangC
                      Carlos Zhang @PeterJones
                      last edited by

                      @PeterJones said in explorer.dll. The specified module could not be found.:

                      unfortunately, that doesn’t tell us what went wrong. Were there error messages?

                      The same message.
                      c:\notepad++\plugins\explorer\explorer.dll
                      The specified module could not be found.
                      explorer.dll is not compatible with the current version of notepad++.

                      PeterJonesP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • PeterJonesP
                        PeterJones @Carlos Zhang
                        last edited by

                        @Carlos-Zhang ,

                        The same message.
                        c:\notepad++\plugins\explorer\explorer.dll

                        It gave the error message for c:\notepad++\plugins\explorer\explorer.dll when you tried to install it while running C:\Users\Carlos\Desktop\npp.7.8.6.bin\notepad++.exe? That doesn’t seem right to me: the one on your desktop shouldn’t know anything about c:\notepad++. Are you sure when Notepad++ re-launched after you installed the plugin in your desktop copy that it correctly ran the desktop copy again?

                        Further, I like @Ekopalypse’s theory: your Notepad++ is somehow finding a different explorer.dll. Two experiments for that, using your desktop copy of Notepad++ (we’re still trying to keep things independent of other settings and plugins that might be interfering):

                        1. From a command prompt (cmd.exe), you could try where explorer.dll: if there’s an explorer.dll in your path (that it would thus possibly find before going to the plugins\explorer\explorer.dll), the cmd.exe where command might tell you about it.
                        2. Go into desktop`npp.7.8.6.bin\plugins`, rename the folder explorer to MyExplorer and the dll that was explorer\explorer.dll to MyExplorer\MyExplorer.dll. Close Notepad++. Run the desktop copy of Notepad++.
                        Carlos ZhangC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • cmeriauxC
                          cmeriaux
                          last edited by

                          You may also try to use the Proc Monitor tools , to check which explorer.dll is loaded.

                          https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • cmeriauxC
                            cmeriaux
                            last edited by

                            Here is a screenshot of procMonitor which could be tricky to use.
                            Add a filter " process name contains notepad" and “paht contains explorer.dll”. Then you’ll se detail operations and query and its status.

                            bf06b8d7-8a95-40f0-b687-3d0f3f5b075f-image.png

                            Carlos ZhangC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • Carlos ZhangC
                              Carlos Zhang @PeterJones
                              last edited by

                              @PeterJones said in explorer.dll. The specified module could not be found.:

                              It gave the error message for c:\notepad++\plugins\explorer\explorer.dll when you tried to install it while running C:\Users\Carlos\Desktop\npp.7.8.6.bin\notepad++.exe? That doesn’t seem right to me

                              I meant the same message except the path.
                              2020-05-04_204151.jpg

                              Carlos ZhangC PeterJonesP 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • Carlos ZhangC
                                Carlos Zhang @Carlos Zhang
                                last edited by

                                >where explorer.dll
                                INFO: Could not find files for the given pattern(s).

                                2020-05-04_204733.jpg

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • PeterJonesP
                                  PeterJones @Carlos Zhang
                                  last edited by PeterJones

                                  @Carlos-Zhang said in explorer.dll. The specified module could not be found.:

                                  I meant the same message except the path.

                                  I’m sorry for misunderstanding.

                                  INFO: Could not find files for the given pattern(s).

                                  I thought it might show something else, which would have made it easier to debug. But alas, it did not.

                                  Please make sure you try @cmeriaux’s suggestion of procMonitor, which can precisely identify the location of the DLL Notepad++ is really trying to load. And please make sure you try my suggestion #2 of renaming the DLL and its folder.

                                  Carlos ZhangC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • Carlos ZhangC
                                    Carlos Zhang @cmeriaux
                                    last edited by

                                    @cmeriaux said in explorer.dll. The specified module could not be found.:

                                    Here is a screenshot of procMonitor which could be tricky to use.

                                    I happen to have another tool Process Hacker which can also find dlls.
                                    2020-05-04_211041.jpg

                                    cmeriauxC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • cmeriauxC
                                      cmeriaux @Carlos Zhang
                                      last edited by

                                      @Carlos-Zhang said in explorer.dll. The specified module could not be found.:

                                      I happen to have another tool Process Hacker which can also find dlls.

                                      I don’t think this is the same goal.
                                      ProcMonitor will say which DDL notepad++ querys on plugin loading.
                                      Process hacker will say which one is in use but in your situation , explorer.dll is not loaded, so it’s not in use. You’ll wont find it in process hacker

                                      Carlos ZhangC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                      • Alan KilbornA
                                        Alan Kilborn
                                        last edited by

                                        Suggestion:

                                        OP is doing too much thinking and this is a problem because his thinking is counter-productive to the thinking of the people trying to help him.

                                        OP needs to do (exactly and only) what the helpers are suggesting, and report back clear results.

                                        That’s the only way this is going to get solved for the OP. My 2c.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • guy038G
                                          guy038
                                          last edited by guy038

                                          Hi, @peterjones and All,

                                          Sorry to answer only now, but my wife and I spent the big weekend of May 1st doing some interior renovations, in our living room !


                                          I also got problems with the plugin explorer.dll ( v1.8.8.0 - x86 - 222,720 bytes ) !

                                          When I started N++, I was told that This application could not be start as MSVCP140.dll could not be found ! I started searching with the Dependency Walker software and it happened that all the following DLL were missing to get explorer.dll to work properly !

                                          ********************************| Module List |*********************************
                                          *                                                                              *
                                          * Legend: D  Delay Load Module   ?  Missing Module           6  64-bit Module  *
                                          *         *  Dynamic Module      !  Invalid Module                             *
                                          *                                E  Import/Export Mismatch or Load Failure     *
                                          *                                                                              *
                                          ********************************************************************************
                                          
                                                 Module                                 File Time Stamp   Link Time Stamp   File Size   Attr.  Link Checksum  Real Checksum  CPU  Subsystem  Symbols     Preferred Base  Actual Base  Virtual Size  Load Order  File Ver         Product Ver      Image Ver  Linker Ver  OS Ver  Subsystem Ver
                                          -----  -------------------------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------  -----  -------------  -------------  ---  ---------  ----------  --------------  -----------  ------------  ----------  ---------------  ---------------  ---------  ----------  ------  -------------
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-CONVERT-L1-1-0.DLL      Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-ENVIRONMENT-L1-1-0.DLL  Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-FILESYSTEM-L1-1-0.DLL   Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-HEAP-L1-1-0.DLL         Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-LOCALE-L1-1-0.DLL       Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-MATH-L1-1-0.DLL         Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-MULTIBYTE-L1-1-0.DLL    Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-RUNTIME-L1-1-0.DLL      Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-STDIO-L1-1-0.DLL        Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-STRING-L1-1-0.DLL       Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-TIME-L1-1-0.DLL         Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  API-MS-WIN-CRT-UTILITY-L1-1-0.DLL      Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [ ? ]  VCRUNTIME140.DLL                       Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [D? ]  CONCRT140.DLL                          Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [D? ]  IESHIMS.DLL                            Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          [D? ]  WER.DLL                                Error opening file. Le fichier spécifié est introuvable (2).
                                          ...
                                          ...
                                          ...
                                          ************************************| Log |*************************************
                                          
                                          Error: At least one required implicit or forwarded dependency was not found.
                                          Warning: At least one delay-load dependency module was not found.
                                          Warning: At least one module has an unresolved import due to a missing export function in a delay-load dependent module.
                                          
                                          

                                          However, after download and installation of the missing dll, either, in system32 folder or in ...\Plugins\Explorer, I always got the same message This application could not be start as MSVCP140.dll could not be found :-((.

                                          Luckily, the next day, I found out the solution ! As my Win WP SP3 laptop is quite an antiquity, when rebuilding the OS, after a C partition crash, in 2018, I simply had installed the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistribuable x86

                                          So I decided to upgrade and downloaded the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015. As the requirements include Win XP SP3, even if VS2015 is not present, and that some hardware specifications were OK, I ran the executable and restarted my laptop.

                                          And…, miraculously, after starting notepad++, no more error message and the Explorer plugin was well installed and fully functional ;-))

                                          Best Regards,

                                          guy038

                                          Carlos ZhangC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                          • EkopalypseE
                                            Ekopalypse
                                            last edited by

                                            @guy038
                                            hmmm - interesting approach - I guess you are on the right track.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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