[Directed to Frank, Brenton, and other Windows programmers hiding out there.]

I want to be able to check to see if a particular DLL is present, and if
so, then call a routine in that DLL .. but if not, then *not* have the
Windows "Cannot find XXX.DLL" message appear.  I'm using MFC 2.5.

At present, my code looks like this:

 -----[ snip, snip ]-----

BOOL CTheApp::InitInstance()
{
   HINSTANCE  hinstWSA = LoadLibrary("WINSOCK.DLL");

   if( (UINT)hinstWSA > 32 )
   {
      WinSockInstalled = TRUE;
      strcpy( wsd, "Winsock 1.1-compliant Transport Located..." );
      FreeLibrary(hinstWSA);
   }
   else
      WinSockInstalled = FALSE;

 -----[ snip, snip ]-----

Now, this code will work, and correctly output the right messages when
requested to do so;  but during that LoadLibrary() function, if WINSOCK.DLL
is not found then the dreaded "Cannot find.." error appears.  Is
there any way to trap that error, or ignore it?  I know MFC supports
exceptions, but I can't seem to find one that'll match this particular
circumstance.

While I'm at it, does Windows have a "search the $PATH" style
function?  (ie., given the PATH environment variable, search it for the
specified file)  Or am I stuck using compiler-specific functions here? 
I've already got my own such functions (written to overcome deficiencies in
the AIX standard library), but I'd rather use a Windows API for this.

Thanks..


    - dave
    d.begley{at}ieee.org

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