Windows CE: Setting the System Path

When loading an exe or dll Windows CE searches the following folders to find the file to load:

LoadLibrary searches for the dll in:

·         The path given in the call to LoadLibrary()

·         The directory that the current exe was loaded from

·         The /Windows folder

·         The ROM DLL files

·         A search path defined in the registry

CreateProcess searches for the exe in:

·         The path given in the call to CreateProcess()

·         The /Windows folder

·         The root folder

·         A search path define in the registry

The search path defined in the registry is:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Launch]

                “SystemPath”= multi_sz:”some path”,”some other path”,…

The system only reads this path when it boots, so changes won’t take effect until the system reboots.

I have given a sample of how to modify this path programmatically in  Windows CE: Programmatically Setting Up an Application to Auto Start.