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Finding obsolete DLL and OCX files

Today I had to make an ancient application developed in VB6 work. This was to demonstrate to third parties that this app was once functional and used actively for business.

The code was provided in some backup CD. The programmer behind the project had long dissappeared.
Also most of the components used in the project were made by companies that have ceased to exist.

Result was that the code would not compile in my machine.
Errors were thrown up like "component xyz not registered" "Invalid Reference" and so on.

Only way was to find these dlls somehow and register them manually using regsvr32
But how?? and where to find them!

It was interesting to search for companies that made products such as SSINPUT1.ocx and sold them for $500+
Needless to say, then went either bust or got acquired. Those who acquired them got acquired and they in turn..... funny.

I made some discoveries which could be useful for people in a similar scenario
SSInput1 is an OCX control for data entry - SS stands for Sheridan Software - gobbled by Infragistics - gobbled by ComponentOne
SS also made a package of components and released them as ActiveInput 1.0

PVDateEdit, PVxxx,.. belongs to ProtoView - Another software company that does not exist any more.



Ok, now the way I found these dlls
Search in google or something with this string

"xyzcomponent.dll siteadvisor"
Eg:
http://www.google.be/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=ssinput1.ocx+siteadvisor&meta=&aq=0&oq=

www.siteadvisor.com will return a list of setup.exe files.
In my case they were programs used for Firefighting, Biotechnology, Glassmaking..

Install each one.
The respective program will register the needed dll or ocx.
Else find them in windows\system32

Uninstall after use.
Whew

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