PRB: 32-bit SSEXP.EXE Doesn't Work but 16-bit SSEXP.EXE Does

ID: Q155971

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When the 32-bit version of Visual SourceSafe 4.0 is launched, an error message is displayed.

In Windows NT 3.51, the dialog box says, "The procedure entry point ?VS_FileGetHdr@@YAHPADPAUFILEHDR@@@Z could not be located in the dynamic link library ssapi.dll." When the OK button is clicked, another dialog box appears that says, "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000139). Click on OK to terminate the application." When the OK button is clicked, the user is returned to the operating system.

In Windows 95, the dialog box says, "The SSGUI.DLL file is linked to missing export SSAPI.DLL:?VS_FileGetHdr@@YAHPADPAUFILEHDR@@@Z." When the OK button is clicked, another dialog box appears that displays the path to the SSEXP.EXE file and says, "A device attached to the system is not functioning." When the OK button is clicked, the user is returned to the operating system.

However, if the 16-bit version is launched, it starts without a problem.

CAUSE

There is a newer version of Ssapi.dll and Ssus.dll in the WIN32 subdirectory which is not compatible with Win32\Ssexp.exe.

RESOLUTION

Download Vssdll4.exe, a self-extracting executable, to the VSS\WIN32 sub- directory. Run the file and overwrite the existing DLLs. Remember to update both the local and server installations of Visual SourceSafe with the correct version of the DLLs.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Software Library:

 ~ Vssdll4.exe (size: 230748 bytes)

For more information about downloading files from the Microsoft Software Library, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

WORKAROUND

One workaround to downloading the file is as follows:

If you don't have access to the Internet, you can sometimes get the two needed files off the CD-ROM. The SSAFE1.CAB file on the CD-ROM must have a time/date stamp of 1/16/96 or this won't work. The two files needed are: SSAPI.DLL and SSUS.DLL. In order to get the files off the CD-ROM, you will need to run the following command twice, once for each file.

   SYNTAX

   extract /L <subdirectory to extract the file to> ssafe1.cab <file to
   extract>

   Example:

   extract /L F:\VSS\WIN32 ssafe1.cab ssapi.dll

   and then run:

   extract /L F:\VSS\WIN32 ssafe1.cab ssus.dll

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this behavior and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

There are newer versions of SSAPI.DLL and SSUS.DLL that are needed to work with newer versions of DDConv.EXE and Analyze.EXE. The newer versions of DDConv.EXE and Analyze.EXE are available to users for free from Microsoft download sites. These new utilities should be put in their own sub- directory and not in the WIN32 sub-directory.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Download DDConv4.EXE as mentioned in Microsoft Knowledge Base article

   Q150647.

2. Copy DDConv4.EXE into the WIN32 directory.

3. Run DDConv4.EXE to self-extract the files. Answer YES when prompted

   to overwrite files.

4. Run WIN32\SSEXP.EXE.

Additional query words: error message cannot launch start

Keywords          : kbfile kbSSafe400 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: September 29, 1998