How to extract an assembly from the GAC?

There is a package I have to deal with which installs assemblies straight into the GAC (e.g. somewhere deep in %windows%/assembly).

How do I exorcise the actual assembly (the DLL) from the GAC into the normal file system?

Thanks.

I used the advice from this article to get an assembly from the GAC.

> Get DLL Out of The GAC

> DLLs once > deployed in GAC (normally located at > c:\windows\assembly) can’t be viewed > or used as a normal DLL file. They > can’t be directly referenced from VS > project. Developers usually keep a > copy of the original DLL file and > refer to it in the project at > development (design) time, which uses > the assembly from GAC during run-time > of the project. > > During execution (run-time) if the > assembly is found to be signed and > deployed in GAC the CLR automatically > picks up the assembly from the GAC > instead of the DLL referenced during > design time in VS. In case the > developer has deleted the original DLL > or don't have it for some reason, > there is a way to get the DLL file > from GAC. Follow the following steps > to copy DLL from GAC > > 1. Run regsvr32 /u C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\shfusion.dll > - shfusion.dll is an explorer extension DLL that gives a distinct > look to the GAC folder. Unregistering > this file will remove the assembly > cache viewer and the GAC folder will > be then visible as any normal folder > in explorer. > > 2. Open “%windir%\assembly\GAC_MSIL”. > > 3. Browse to your DLL folder into the deep to find your DLL. > > 4. Copy the DLL somewhere on your hard disk and refer it from there in your > project > > 5. Run "regsvr32 %windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework<.NET > version directory> \shfusion.dll" to > re-register the shfusion.dll file and > regain the original distinct view of > the GAC.

The method described here is very easy:

http://andreasglaser.net/post/2008/08/05/Extract-assembly-from-Global-Assembly-Cache-(GAC)-with-network-drive-mapping.aspx

Summary from Article:

• Map a Network Drive (Explorer -> Tools)
• Map to \servername\folder (\\YourServer\C$\Windows\Assembly)
• No need for sharing if you are the Administrator
• Browse to the drive and extract your assembly

Open the Command Prompt and Type :

cd  c:\windows\assembly\GAC_MSIL 

xcopy . C:\GacDump /s /y

This should give the dump of the entire GAC

Enjoy!

Yes.

Add DisableCacheViewer Registry Key

Create a new dword key under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Fusion\ with the name DisableCacheViewer and set it’s [DWORD] value to 1.

Go back to Windows Explorer to the assembly folder and it will be the normal file system view.

I think the easiest way is to do it through the command line like David mentions. The only trick is that the .dll isn't simply located at C:\Windows\Assembly. You have to navigate to C:\Windows\Assembly\GAC\[ASSEMBLY_NAME]\[VERSION_NUMBER]_[PUBLIC KEY]. You can then do a copy using:

copy [ASSEMBLY_NAME].dll c:\ (or whatever location you want)

Hope that helps.

Easy way I have found is to open the command prompt and browse through the folder you mention until you find the DLL you want - you can then user the copy command to get it out. Windows Explorer has a "helpful" special view of this folder.

Open RUN then type %windir%\assembly\GAC_MSIL, this will open your dlls in folders' view you can then navigate to your dll named folder and open it, you will find your dll file and copy it easily

I am the author of PowerShell GAC. With PowerShell GAC you can extract assemblies from the GAC without depending on GAC internals like changing folder structures.

Get-GacAssembly SomeCompany* | Get-GacAssemblyFile | Copy-Item -Dest C:\Temp\SomeCompany

This MSDN blog post describes three separate ways of extracting a DLL from the GAC. A useful summary of the methods so far given.

Use the file browser "Total Commander" instead.

1. Enable the "show hidden/system files" setting in Total Commander
2. Browse to "c:\windows\assembly"
3. copy

Think I figured out a way to look inside the GAC without modifying the registry or using the command line, powershell, or any other programs:

Create a new shortcut (to anywhere). Then modify the shortcut to have the target be:

%windir%\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System

Opening this shortcut takes you to the System folder inside the GAC (which everyone should have) and has the wonderful side effect of letting you switch to a higher directory and then browsing into any other folder you want (and see the dll files, etc)

I tested this on windows 7 and windows server 2012.

Note: It will not let you use that target when creating the shortcut but it will let you edit it.

Enjoy!

just navigate to C:\Windows find the [assembly] folder right click and select add to archive

wait a little

vola you have an archive file containing all the assemblies in your GAC

From a Powershell script, you can try this. I only had a single version of the assembly in the GAC so this worked just fine.

cd "c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_MSIL\"
Get-ChildItem assemblypath -Recurse -Include *.dll |  Copy-Item -Destination "c:\folder to copy to"

where the assembly path can use wildcards.

One other direction--just unpack the MSI file and get the goodies that way. Saves you from the eventual uninstall . . .

Copying from a command line is unnecessary. I typed in the name of the DLL from the Start Window search. I chose See More Results. The one in the GAC was returned in the search window. I right clicked on it and said open file location. It opened in normal Windows Explorer. I copied the file. I closed the window. Done.