The fix also includes missing api-ms-win-core-*.dll files from Windows 10 SDK, placed in the game's folder or C:\Windows\System32 (dangerous). 4. Deep Dive: VKD3D-Proton Configuration for Dead Signal A proper fix uses VKD3D-Proton compiled for Windows 7. Key settings in dxvk.conf :
FMessageDialog::Open(EAppMsgType::Ok, TEXT("Windows 10 or newer required")); return false;
if (!FPlatformMisc::VerifyWindowsVersion(10, 0))
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\AppCompatFlags\Layers] "C:\\Games\\Dead Signal\\DeadSignal.exe"="WIN7RTM" This forces Windows 7 compatibility shims (though limited effect for UE4).
d3d12.dll dxgi.dll (for IDXGIFactory4+) Windows 7 does not include d3d12.dll . Even if copied from Windows 10, the underlying kernel (NT 6.1) lacks D3D12's GPU virtual address management. | API | Used for | Windows 7 alternative | |------|----------|----------------------| | CreateFile2 | Async file I/O | CreateFileW (but lacks FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED optimizations) | | SetThreadDescription | Debugging/profiling | None (requires Win10+ Thread Information API) | | RtlGetVersion (with >=10.0) | OS version check | Patch to return 6.1 | 2.3 Unreal Engine 4.27 Hard Dependencies UE4.27's WindowsPlatformMisc.cpp contains: