Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2016 July 2

= July 2 =

Windows Media Player
I possess wmploc.dll file. How do I activate it? - Step by step guide sought please. -- Apostle (talk) 19:03, 2 July 2016 (UTC)
 * See Dynamic-link library. It is not possible for you to activate a .dll file, because as the article says, "It is not possible to directly execute a DLL, since it requires an EXE for the operating system to load it through an entry point..." Akld guy (talk) 21:12, 2 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Did you download it from one of those web sites that offers free downloads of DLL files, in the hope of using it to solve some problem? If so, what was the original problem? Don't ever use those sites. -- BenRG (talk) 23:53, 2 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Okay, thanks guys. -- Apostle (talk) 04:59, 3 July 2016 (UTC)


 * This is where I downloaded from. Let me know how to achieve this software, along with the desktop and its icons please, if possible. Regards. -- Apostle (talk) 04:59, 3 July 2016 (UTC)
 * When I tried downloading the file from that site, it displayed the message "copy file in Windows/system 32 and replace it!" at the bottom of the browser, so that (i.e. copy the file wmploc.dll to C:\windows\system32, replacing the version that is currently there) is presumably what you need to do. However, be aware that a DLL is essentially executable code, so (as BenRG warns) there is a risk of viruses or other malware if you do this. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 11:02, 3 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Windows Media Player should run the dll automatically if you replaced the old dll that it formerly used.   D b f i r s   11:13, 3 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Can't copy and replace it. My PC is being mean as usual. } -- Apostle (talk) 18:19, 3 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Are you logged on with administrator privileges?   D b f i r s   09:30, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
 * I’m the administrator, well, it’s what I believe. After the first re-installation, I only created a Login account, that’s all. -- Apostle (talk) 18:33, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
 * That file contains no executable code, so it is probably safe not malicious.
 * My 64-bit Windows 7 installation contains 14 versions of this file in WinSxS. Also two versions are linked in System32 and SysWOW64. I don't know which version wmplayer actually uses. You could try replacing the version in SysWOW64 or, if you're running 32-bit Windows, System32. Drag the original file to your desktop or something before you replace it, so that you can drag it back if the replacement doesn't work.
 * Windows Media Player shouldn't be running when you replace the file.
 * "My PC is being mean as usual" is useless. You need to say what is going wrong (what error message) if you want anyone to be able to help you. -- BenRG (talk) 04:53, 5 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Its one of those certain things, can not be fixed... I tried what you stated, it didn't work... -- Apostle (talk) 06:51, 5 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The claim that a DLL "contains no executable code" is absolutely untrue. At least take an intro to operating systems course because handing out misinformation to others. 209.149.113.4 (talk) 18:42, 5 July 2016 (UTC)
 * BenRG did not say that DLLs contain no executable code. He said that wmploc.dll, the file that the OP asked about, contains no executable code. How about you read the question and answers thoroughly before making snide remarks about a knowledgeable editor from the safety of an anonymous IP address. Akld guy (talk) 20:25, 5 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The Windows implementation of DLLs gives *ALL* DLLs an optional entry point. If defined, the code at that entry point will be executed when the DLL is loaded. So, if I make my own wmploc.dll file with an entry point defined so that it executes some form of malware code, then it has executable code. Therefore, the claim that any file named wmploc.dll won't have executable code is false. If you read this thread, you will see that the user is not downloading wmploc.dll from Microsoft (a trusted source). Therefore, there is absolutely no reason to assume that the file being downloaded is the official DLL file. The point here is that you have a user who is downloading a DLL from an untrusted source and another user who is saying that it is probably safe because it doesn't have executable code in it. Downloading system files from untrusted sources is simply stupid. Claiming that a DLL file from an untrusted source is probably safe because it doesn't have executable code is simple misinformation. 209.149.113.4 (talk) 14:03, 6 July 2016 (UTC)


 * The file from the page he linked is a resource-only DLL with no executable code. It's hosted by DeviantArt, and it's a theme/skin for Windows Media Player. I shouldn't have called it safe, since WMP probably wasn't designed to be skinned this way, but I do strongly believe that it isn't malicious. That applies only to this file. In general, you should never download replacement DLLs from random web sites, as I said in my first post to this thread. -- BenRG (talk) 20:14, 6 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Yes, I also went to the trouble of downloading the RAR file and extracting its contents using the free extractor 7-Zip. The only content extracted was the wmploc.dll file, which I confirm is a Resource file. Akld guy (talk) 20:49, 6 July 2016 (UTC)


 * And how did you confirm that it is a resource file? I can easily make a resource file called wmploc.dll, add an entry point, and add malware code to it. It will be a resource file... a resource file with malware. So, how did you confirm that it is just a resource file? I assume you disassembled the file. That will get you to the assembly code. Then, you located the entry point, right? Then, you verified a null entry point, right? You really, actually, truly did that? Then, because that is just one and only one security issue with dynamically loading a DLL file, you checked all other forms of arbitrary code execution, right? You seriously did? In my opinion, downloading random files off the Internet and hoping that they are safe is a very stupid practice. I am opposed to mixed messages that claim some files are safe enough while others aren't. All untrusted sources should be considered unsafe. If you really truly need an official wmploc.dll file, get it from Microsoft. If you just want a pretty skin for your media player, get one done the right way, not one that opens you up to arbitrary code execution. 209.149.113.4 (talk) 17:03, 7 July 2016 (UTC)
 * I hovered my mouse over the file and it was described as a Resource file. I scanned it with my anti-virus and it reported no problem whatsoever. Not even a warning that there might be harmful executable code. Akld guy (talk) 21:49, 7 July 2016 (UTC)

Thanks all. -- Apostle (talk) 06:51, 5 July 2016 (UTC)