Resolution:
"The application failed to initialize" error


So you linked, built and compiled your VC8 CPP DSDriver but it keeps failing with this uninformative error:


"The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0150002). Click on OK to terminate the application."


In many cases this error, frustrating as it may be, can be simple to solve. Since VC8, Microsoft has changed the runtime library deployment mechanism. This means that your application may not be looking for the runtimes where it should be. Therefore, please try one of the following:


    * Download and run the applicable redistributable package, provided by MS at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en. (64bit at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=B44A0000-ACF8-4FA1-AFFB-40E78D788B00&displaylang=en).
    * Copy the following files, from the VC8 GS SDK directory, to the root directory of your client executable:
          o msvcm80.dll
          o msvcp80.dll
          o msvcr80.dll
    * Set the manifest file to point to the correct runtime version and location.


Also note that you must build with Visual Studio 8 Service pack 1.