Скачать или смотреть Solving COM Issues in Custom Credential Providers with C# and C+ +

Learn how to effectively troubleshoot and resolve `COM` component loading issues in Windows Credential Providers using C# and C+ + with this detailed guide.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/64700138/ asked by the user 'Tom' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12415604/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/64704233/ provided by the user 'M.Furkan ARDOĞAN' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/6065177/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Introduction

Developing a custom Credential Provider for Windows can be an exciting project, especially when integrating C# with C+ + through a COM interface. However, developers often run into challenges, particularly when trying to launch their credential provider outside of the usual login scenarios. One common issue is the COM component not loading correctly, leading to errors like 0x80040154 (REGDB_E_CLASSNOTREG). If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone. In this guide, we will unravel the complexities of using COM in a Credential Provider and share effective solutions to tackle loading issues.

Understanding the Problem

Your custom credential provider successfully works with winlogon, loading the C# component seamlessly. However, when you attempt to use it for functions like "Execute as other user" through a right-click context menu, you encounter problems. Specifically, while invoking CreateInstance, the application fails, and a class not found error appears.

Common Symptoms

Successful loading during winlogon authentication but fails during other executions.

Error code 0x80040154 indicating the class is not registered.

Potential Causes

Issues with registration of the COM class.

Inconsistent approaches between 32-bit and 64-bit architectures, even if both processes seem to run on the same architecture.

Solution Analysis

Avoiding COM Pitfalls

While troubleshooting, one prominent suggestion emerges: consider avoiding COM altogether. Despite its longstanding presence, COM can complicate integration efforts, especially in mixed environments. Instead, leveraging Visual C+ + CLI might provide a smoother bridge between managed and unmanaged code.

Transition to Visual C+ + CLI

Using Visual C+ + CLI allows you to work in a framework that directly supports interoperability between native C+ + and managed C# code. This bridge can alleviate many complications associated with traditional COM. Here's how you can approach the transition:

Create a Visual C+ + CLI Wrapper:

Develop a .NET assembly that accesses your C# components.

This wrapper will expose the necessary functionality without relying on COM registration.

Implement Easy Access:

By calling this Visual C+ + CLI assembly directly, you can invoke methods from your C# code without dealing with the intricacies of COM registration.

Handle Assembly Binding:

Ensure that your Visual C+ + CLI assembly is correctly set to manage dependencies—this eliminates potential versioning issues.

Final Thoughts

While it can be tempting to stick with COM due to existing knowledge and documentation, it might be worth pivoting to Visual C+ + CLI for cleaner architecture. Moving forward, not only do you simplify loading and execution issues, but you also enhance the maintainability of your code.

Conclusion

Tackling COM issues in custom Credential Providers can be daunting. However, by shifting to more modern approaches such as Visual C+ + CLI, developers can avoid frustrating pitfalls and create more robust applications. If you're encountering issues, consider this method for clearer interop paths and simpler debugging. Remember: sometimes, stepping away from traditional methods leads to the most effective solutions.