Unreal Engine 5.2 + Unreal Editor working on Windows 7!

VictorTheVictor · Post by **VictorTheVictor** » 21 May 2023, 22:27

This took a lot of trial and error (AstroGrep helped greatly), but I got Unreal Editor 5.2 working on Windows 7. First of all, the regular 5.0 trick is needed, where you take the Windows 7 Python binaries and replace the ones included with UE5 (thank you VERY much Python for being a total d*ck with support).
https://github.com/adang1345/PythonWin7/tree/master/3.9.16
Here you can download the x64 zip file, take python.exe, python39.dll and api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll, copy them over to UE_5.2\Engine\Binaries\Win64 and UE_5.2\Engine\Binaries\ThirdParty\Python\Win64. Replace the existing files. If you try to run it however, it won't work as one more step is necessary. One dll contains a Windows 8+ function called CreateFile2, but just renaming it to CreateFileW in a hex editor does the job.
If you don't want to do this yourself, I provided a link to the patched dll at the bottom of the post, but in case you want to do it yourself, the process is as follows:
Download HxD or any hex editor of choice. Go to UE_5.2\Engine\Plugins\Media\ImgMedia\Binaries\Win64 and open UnrealEditor-OpenExrWrapper.dll in your editor. In HxD, you can press Ctrl+R for the replace menu. Replace all instances of CreateFile2 with CreateFileW and save. That's it, the file is patched and you can run Unreal Engine 5.2. The process works for Unreal Engine 5.1 also, if there is any reason for you to use 5.1. Ignore all api-ms-winrt errors, the Unreal Editor lauches no problem. Soon I wil try to get Nanite working via a Vulkan wrapper, and maybe Lumen if someone with an RTX card can test some stuff out.
As promised, here is the patched dll:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/giim7ca9quajqbg/UnrealEditor-OpenExrWrapper.dll/file
Place it in UE_5.2\Engine\Plugins\Media\ImgMedia\Binaries\Win64
AstroGrep: https://astrogrep.sourceforge.net/
HxD: https://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/

Darth Agnon · Post by **Darth Agnon** » 21 May 2023, 23:11

Is there a way to get an offline installer for Unreal Engine without using the Epic Games Launcher? I kinda want to archive gold versions and the necessary compatibility patches.

VictorTheVictor · Post by **VictorTheVictor** » 22 May 2023, 16:23

Darth Agnon wrote: ↑21 May 2023, 23:11 Is there a way to get an offline installer for Unreal Engine without using the Epic Games Launcher? I kinda want to archive gold versions and the necessary compatibility patches.

You don't need to install it. Just copy the folder somewhere and it just works. Zipping the archive and uploading it somewhere should work, althought I doubt Epic will remove 7 support any time soon, so the launcher should work fine

VictorTheVictor · Post by **VictorTheVictor** » 29 Jul 2023, 04:35

Trying out 5.3 preview today

VictorTheVictor · Post by **VictorTheVictor** » 29 Jul 2023, 06:35

I keep getting this error. Had to repatch exr wrapper. Not sure what to do at this point. Dependency Walker gives hardly any useful info

VictorTheVictor · Post by **VictorTheVictor** » 24 Aug 2023, 16:32

Darth Agnon wrote: ↑21 May 2023, 23:11 Is there a way to get an offline installer for Unreal Engine without using the Epic Games Launcher? I kinda want to archive gold versions and the necessary compatibility patches.

I still have UE 5.2 installed on one of my laptops. I will get the whole engine saved and compressed, but I don't know where to put a 40GB file... That one will be pre patched to work on 7, other than that, I don't know why Epic Games became so terrible with 7 support. The support used to be great, but ever since Fortnite battle pass stopped working on 7, it's been a downhill trend. The fact they went out of their way to update version 5.1 to 5.1.1 too, and break 7 compatibility there too, while also not letting you download 5.0, it's just disgusting.

Agent00win7 · Post by **Agent00win7** » 01 Apr 2025, 20:45

Instruction how to fix Unreal Engine 5.4.4 on Windows 7
1) Download "api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.dll" from git okt04175/api-ms-win-core-synch-Win7 and place to UE_5.4\Engine\Binaries\Win64
2) Edit via CFF Explorer or HEX Editor: UE_5.4\Engine\Binaries\ThirdParty\Windows\WinPixEventRuntime\x64\WinPixEventRuntime.dll: KERNEL32.DLL - SetThreadDescription -> SetLastError or get this file from old worked version of unreal engine 5
3) Edit via notepad (change from "true" to "false"): UE_5.4\Engine\Config\BaseEngine.ini:
[Zen]
AutoLaunch=false
4) Edit via notepad: UE_5.4\Engine\Binaries\Win64\UnrealEditor.modules:
delete string " "MetalShaderFormat": "UnrealEditor-MetalShaderFormat.dll","
5) Edit via CFF Explorer or HEX Editor: UE_5.4\Engine\Plugins\Media\ImgMedia\Binaries\Win64\UnrealEditor-OpenExrWrapper.dll: KERNEL32.DLL - CreateFile2 -> CreateFileW or get this file from old worked version of unreal engine 5
6) Maybe need download "api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll" from git nalexandru/api-ms-win-core-path-HACK and place to UE_5.4\Engine\Binaries\Win64 or C:\WINDOWS\system32
7) Maybe need xinput1_4.dll: copy xinput1_3.dll from C:\WINDOWS\system32 and rename to xinput1_4.dll (place to UE_5.4\Engine\Binaries\Win64 or C:\WINDOWS\system32)
Optional:
8) To bypass warn of old GPU driver version edit via notepad UE_5.4\Engine\Config\ConsoleVariables.ini
[Startup]
r.WarnOfBadDrivers=0

9) RUN UNREAL EDITOR via cmd with argument or add it to shorcut:
UE 5.4.4:
\UE_5.4\Engine\Binaries\Win64\unrealeditor.exe -ddc=NoZenLocalFallback

UE 5.5.3:
\UE_5.5\Engine\Binaries\Win64\unrealeditor.exe -DDC-ForceMemoryCache

NOTE
1) for UE 5.5 need also disable\delete neural network editor plugin or search solution how to change onnxruntime version from dx12 to gpu\cuda\cpu version.
2) You may try to use Zen but it required fix via CFF Explorer too much files.
3) Create new project with DefaultGraphicsPerformance=Scalable
4) In project settings-platform-windows select only SM5 RHIs and deselect all SM6. Also need to set DefaultGraphicsRHI to dx11 or Vulkan
5) Recommend edit via notepad DefaultEngine.ini of you project:
r.ReflectionMethod=0 ;lumen reflection off
r.GenerateMeshDistanceFields=False
r.DynamicGlobalIlluminationMethod=0 ;lumen global illumination off
r.Shadow.Virtual.Enable=0 ;virtual shadow maps off

ahahahaah · Post by **ahahahaah** » 23 Jan 2026, 17:27

hello, can you reupload the file please? (link is dead, it is not available anymore)
thanks

Post by **Duke** » 23 Jan 2026, 23:26

The OP has explained how to patch the file yourself:

VictorTheVictor wrote: ↑21 May 2023, 22:27 in case you want to do it yourself, the process is as follows:
Download HxD or any hex editor of choice. Go to UE_5.2\Engine\Plugins\Media\ImgMedia\Binaries\Win64 and open UnrealEditor-OpenExrWrapper.dll in your editor. In HxD, you can press Ctrl+R for the replace menu. Replace all instances of CreateFile2 with CreateFileW and save. That's it, the file is patched and you can run Unreal Engine 5.2.

ahahahaah · Post by **ahahahaah** » 24 Jan 2026, 13:35

Duke wrote: ↑23 Jan 2026, 23:26 The OP has explained how to patch the file yourself:

VictorTheVictor wrote: ↑21 May 2023, 22:27 in case you want to do it yourself, the process is as follows:
Download HxD or any hex editor of choice. Go to UE_5.2\Engine\Plugins\Media\ImgMedia\Binaries\Win64 and open UnrealEditor-OpenExrWrapper.dll in your editor. In HxD, you can press Ctrl+R for the replace menu. Replace all instances of CreateFile2 with CreateFileW and save. That's it, the file is patched and you can run Unreal Engine 5.2.

yes but it's to avoid the unreal engine/python/hexeditor installations/use

ahahahaah · Post by **ahahahaah** » 24 Jan 2026, 15:02

i've tryed to install the epic games launcher to get unreal engine but an error message says that i can't install it because i dont have windows 10...
(i wonder how the OP did to install it on his system)

if someone has this patched dll, you are welcome.

The-10-Pen · Post by **The-10-Pen** » 24 Jan 2026, 15:21

If I read the thread correctly, the OP ***DID NOT INSTALL IT***
He simply LAUNCHED it. No "install", just *launch/execute*.

ahahahaah · Post by **ahahahaah** » 24 Jan 2026, 16:30

The-10-Pen wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 15:21 If I read the thread correctly, the OP ***DID NOT INSTALL IT***
He simply LAUNCHED it. No "install", just *launch/execute*.

what do you launch? when you say he launched "it", what is "it"? .exe file? exe file of what?
"launch/execute" is a command? where i type it?

the unreal engine is not a file to download, it is required 1st to install the epic games launcher.
Or i have missed something...

i notice that the hassle is coming bit by bit, it was for this reason that i reuped this topic, just to ask the already patched dll,
duke suggested to build it myself, but i see that this way will lead me to a long and maybe no issue way.

The-10-Pen · Post by **The-10-Pen** » 24 Jan 2026, 17:28

It looks to me like *everything* required to build "it" yourself is contained in this thread (spanning multiple posts, but all in this one thread).
I would *START* with this post - https://board.eclipse.cx/viewtopic.php?p=6453#p6453
And perform each and every step without expecting somebody else to perform them for you.

(that is not intended to sound "blunt", just stating where I would *start* if it were *ME*...)
(also, do note that the original OP is no longer listed as being a member and isn't going to see your request for assistance...)

Post by **Duke** » 24 Jan 2026, 20:25

ahahahaah wrote: ↑24 Jan 2026, 16:30
i reuped this topic, just to ask the already patched dll,
duke suggested to build it myself, but i see that this way will lead me to a long and maybe no issue way.

Upload the original UnrealEditor-OpenExrWrapper.dll somewhere, e.g., on https://www.swisstransfer.com, and I'll patch it for you.

ahahahaah · Post by **ahahahaah** » 24 Jan 2026, 21:06

ok there is a big misunderstanding

@The-10-Pen
i clicked the link and it refers to a UE_5.4 folder but i don't have any ue_5.4 folder in my computer its for this reason that i told that i tryed to install unreal engine (but i cant without installing epic launcher)

@Duke i wanted to do it myself but i dont have any UnrealEditor-OpenExrWrapper.dll , because i dont have the UE-5.4 folder. Its for this reason i tryed to install unreal engine: to have this file and apply the instructions above.

I feel i missed some important thing because i see there is something you all consider as i should already have, but i dont.

The-10-Pen · Post by **The-10-Pen** » 24 Jan 2026, 22:46

I don't have it either.
Technically, I've *never HEARD* of "Unreal Engine" or "Unreal Editor" or even "Epic Games" or "Epic Games Launcher".

Applying the "patch instructions" is **EASY**.
But yeah, you have to have to base file in order to patch it, lol.

The-10-Pen · Post by **The-10-Pen** » 24 Jan 2026, 22:49

Didn't watch it, but this seems to be related -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMrvhrPEYeg

The-10-Pen · Post by **The-10-Pen** » 24 Jan 2026, 23:04

Have you tried here? -- https://github.com/EpicGames/
Sign up for an Epic account and register your GitHub ID (they're free).

Other than that, I'm of no use. I literally (!) have no clue what "Epic Games" even is.

ahahahaah · Post by **ahahahaah** » 25 Jan 2026, 00:49

thanks for trying to help.
the video considers you already installed the launcher (but as i told it doesnt install on win7)
the page you linked indicates this link https://github.com/EpicGames/UnrealEngine for the github repositories, but its a 404 page.

I knew at 1st time that the simplest way was someone who maybe kept this patched dll file. But i'm aware that its not so easy after 3 years.

The-10-Pen · Post by **The-10-Pen** » 25 Jan 2026, 01:02

So you have the "installer"?
Can't you just EXTRACT the installer and get the UnrealEditor-OpenExrWrapper.dll file that way?
Then patch via the instructions in previous posts?

ie, EXTRACT using something like -- https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/universal_extractor_2.html
(or 7Zip, but odds are pretty low that it can extract most installers)
[and I haven't used WinRAR in DECADES to fathom a guess if it could extract typical installers]

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