Pyinstaller created executable can not find DLL that is is present in the MEIPASS directory

Question

I am trying to create a onefile exe on Windows 7 using PyInstaller. The executable is created without any errors:

88 INFO: PyInstaller: 3.5
88 INFO: Python: 3.6.9
88 INFO: Platform: Windows-7-6.1.7600-SP0
88 DEBUG: Testing for UPX ...
90 INFO: UPX is not available.
92 DEBUG: script: numeca\admin_tool\admin_tool.py
93 INFO: Extending PYTHONPATH with paths
['C:\\Users\\vikramaditya\\Desktop\\admin_tool_2to3',
 'C:\\Users\\vikramaditya\\Desktop\\admin_tool_2to3']
93 INFO: checking Analysis
93 INFO: Building Analysis because Analysis-00.toc is non existent
93 INFO: Initializing module dependency graph...
95 INFO: Initializing module graph hooks...
97 INFO: Analyzing base_library.zip ...
97 DEBUG: Collecting submodules for collections
187 DEBUG: collect_submodules - Found submodules: {'collections', 'collections.abc'}
188 DEBUG: Collecting submodules for encodings
293 DEBUG: collect_submodules - Found submodules: {'encodings.cp1006', 'encodings.cp950', 'encodings.undefined', 'encodings.cp852', 'encodings.iso2022_jp_2', 'encodings.cp1026', 'encodings.iso8859_9', 'encodings.johab', 'encodings.iso2022_jp_2004', 'encodings.hz', 'encodings.gb2312', 'encodings.oem', 'encodings.utf_32_be', 'encodings.cp775', 'encodings.kz1048', 'encodings.cp1251', 'encodings.euc_jis_2004', 'encodings.uu_codec', 'encodings.cp857', 'encodings.cp1250', 'encodings.utf_16_le', 'encodings.charmap', 'encodings.iso2022_jp_3', 'encodings.iso8859_11', 'encodings', 'encodings.zlib_codec', 'encodings.aliases', 'encodings.iso8859_5', 'encodings.big5', 'encodings.mac_latin2', 'encodings.iso8859_4', 'encodings.bz2_codec', 'encodings.iso8859_1', 'encodings.utf_16_be', 'encodings.cp65001', 'encodings.mac_iceland', 'encodings.mac_roman', 'encodings.koi8_u', 'encodings.cp864', 'encodings.cp273', 'encodings.unicode_escape', 'encodings.iso2022_jp_1', 'encodings.cp858', 'encodings.iso8859_6', 'encodings.iso2022_jp_ext', 'encodings.cp1254', 'encodings.iso8859_3', 'encodings.palmos', 'encodings.tis_620', 'encodings.iso8859_16', 'encodings.utf_32', 'encodings.iso8859_8', 'encodings.cp875', 'encodings.iso8859_15', 'encodings.rot_13', 'encodings.idna', 'encodings.cp862', 'encodings.euc_jp', 'encodings.mac_croatian', 'encodings.euc_jisx0213', 'encodings.koi8_t', 'encodings.mbcs', 'encodings.koi8_r', 'encodings.cp863'}
3771 DEBUG: Adding python files to base_library.zip
3810 DEBUG: Hidden import: codecs
3810 DEBUG: Hidden import 'codecs' already found
3810 INFO: running Analysis Analysis-00.toc
3810 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\python.exe
3836 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\python.exe:
3837 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
3837 INFO: Adding Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls to dependent assemblies of final executable
  required by c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\python.exe
3837 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
3845 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-math-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python.exe from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-math-l1-1-0.dll
3847 DEBUG: Adding python36.dll dependency of python.exe from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\python36.dll
3849 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of python.exe
3851 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python.exe from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll
3853 DEBUG: Adding VCRUNTIME140.dll dependency of python.exe from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\VCRUNTIME140.dll
3854 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python.exe from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll
3855 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python.exe from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll
3857 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-locale-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python.exe from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-locale-l1-1-0.dll
3857 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-math-l1-1-0.dll
3877 DEBUG: Adding ucrtbase.dll dependency of api-ms-win-crt-math-l1-1-0.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\ucrtbase.dll
3877 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\python36.dll
3878 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\python36.dll:
3878 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
3879 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
3897 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-time-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python36.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-time-l1-1-0.dll
3898 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-process-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python36.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-process-l1-1-0.dll
3901 DEBUG: Skipping VERSION.dll dependency of python36.dll
3903 DEBUG: Skipping ADVAPI32.dll dependency of python36.dll
3906 DEBUG: Skipping WS2_32.dll dependency of python36.dll
3908 DEBUG: Skipping SHLWAPI.dll dependency of python36.dll
3910 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-environment-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python36.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-environment-l1-1-0.dll
3911 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-string-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python36.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-string-l1-1-0.dll
3913 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-convert-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python36.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-convert-l1-1-0.dll
3915 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of python36.dll
3924 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-filesystem-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python36.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-filesystem-l1-1-0.dll
3925 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-conio-l1-1-0.dll dependency of python36.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-conio-l1-1-0.dll
3925 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll
3938 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\VCRUNTIME140.dll
3947 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of VCRUNTIME140.dll
3949 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll
3955 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll
3965 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-locale-l1-1-0.dll
3970 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\ucrtbase.dll
3995 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-datetime-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-datetime-l1-1-0.dll
3997 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.dll
3998 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-sysinfo-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-sysinfo-l1-1-0.dll
3999 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-interlocked-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-interlocked-l1-1-0.dll
4001 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-file-l1-2-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-file-l1-2-0.dll
4002 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-errorhandling-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-errorhandling-l1-1-0.dll
4004 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-file-l2-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-file-l2-1-0.dll
4005 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-memory-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-memory-l1-1-0.dll
4006 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-heap-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-heap-l1-1-0.dll
4008 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-namedpipe-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-namedpipe-l1-1-0.dll
4010 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-0.dll
4011 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll
4013 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-file-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-file-l1-1-0.dll
4014 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-handle-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-handle-l1-1-0.dll
4016 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll
4017 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-processenvironment-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-processenvironment-l1-1-0.dll
4018 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll
4020 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-rtlsupport-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-rtlsupport-l1-1-0.dll
4021 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-timezone-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-timezone-l1-1-0.dll
4023 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-1.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-1.dll
4024 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-console-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-console-l1-1-0.dll
4026 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-profile-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-profile-l1-1-0.dll
4027 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-debug-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-debug-l1-1-0.dll
4028 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-util-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-util-l1-1-0.dll
4030 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-1-0.dll dependency of ucrtbase.dll from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-1-0.dll
4030 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-time-l1-1-0.dll
4036 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-process-l1-1-0.dll
4039 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-environment-l1-1-0.dll
4042 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-string-l1-1-0.dll
4054 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-convert-l1-1-0.dll
4063 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-filesystem-l1-1-0.dll
4068 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-conio-l1-1-0.dll
4071 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-datetime-l1-1-0.dll
4076 DEBUG: Skipping kernel32.dll dependency of api-ms-win-core-datetime-l1-1-0.dll
...
4149 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll
4156 DEBUG: Skipping kernel32.dll dependency of api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll
4158 DEBUG: Skipping normaliz.dll dependency of api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll
4158 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-processenvironment-l1-1-0.dll
4163 DEBUG: Skipping kernel32.dll dependency of api-ms-win-core-processenvironment-l1-1-0.dll
4163 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll
4169 DEBUG: Skipping user32.dll dependency of api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll
4171 DEBUG: Skipping kernel32.dll dependency of api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll
...
4216 INFO: Caching module hooks...
4223 INFO: Analyzing numeca\admin_tool\admin_tool.py
4227 INFO: Loading module hooks...
4227 INFO: Loading module hook "hook-encodings.py"...
4227 DEBUG: Collecting submodules for encodings
4335 DEBUG: collect_submodules - Found submodules: {'encodings.cp1006', 'encodings.iso2022_jp_1', 'encodings.cp858', 'encodings.iso8859_6', 'encodings.iso2022_jp_ext', 'encodings.cp1254', 'encodings.iso8859_3', 'encodings.palmos', 'encodings.tis_620', 'encodings.iso8859_16', 'encodings.utf_32', 'encodings.iso8859_8', 'encodings.cp875', 'encodings.iso8859_15', 'encodings.rot_13', 'encodings.idna', 'encodings.cp862', 'encodings.euc_jp', 'encodings.mac_croatian', 'encodings.euc_jisx0213', 'encodings.koi8_t', 'encodings.mbcs', 'encodings.koi8_r', 'encodings.cp863'}
4344 INFO: Loading module hook "hook-pydoc.py"...
4345 INFO: Loading module hook "hook-xml.py"...
4652 DEBUG: Looking for egg data files...
4652 INFO: Looking for ctypes DLLs
4652 INFO: Analyzing run-time hooks ...
4659 INFO: Looking for dynamic libraries
4660 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_ssl.pyd
4661 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_ssl.pyd:
4662 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4662 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4669 DEBUG: Skipping ADVAPI32.dll dependency of _ssl.pyd
4671 DEBUG: Skipping USER32.dll dependency of _ssl.pyd
4673 DEBUG: Skipping WS2_32.dll dependency of _ssl.pyd
4675 DEBUG: Adding api-ms-win-crt-utility-l1-1-0.dll dependency of _ssl.pyd from c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-utility-l1-1-0.dll
4677 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of _ssl.pyd
4680 DEBUG: Skipping CRYPT32.dll dependency of _ssl.pyd
4682 DEBUG: Skipping GDI32.dll dependency of _ssl.pyd
4682 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\pyexpat.pyd
4683 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\pyexpat.pyd:
4683 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4684 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4689 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of pyexpat.pyd
4689 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\unicodedata.pyd
4690 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\unicodedata.pyd:
4690 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4690 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4696 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of unicodedata.pyd
4696 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_hashlib.pyd
4697 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_hashlib.pyd:
4697 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4698 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4704 DEBUG: Skipping ADVAPI32.dll dependency of _hashlib.pyd
4706 DEBUG: Skipping USER32.dll dependency of _hashlib.pyd
4711 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of _hashlib.pyd
4713 DEBUG: Skipping GDI32.dll dependency of _hashlib.pyd
4713 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_bz2.pyd
4714 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_bz2.pyd:
4714 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4714 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4720 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of _bz2.pyd
4720 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_lzma.pyd
4721 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_lzma.pyd:
4721 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4721 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4726 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of _lzma.pyd
4726 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_socket.pyd
4727 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\_socket.pyd:
4727 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4728 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4733 DEBUG: Skipping WS2_32.dll dependency of _socket.pyd
4735 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of _socket.pyd
4735 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\select.pyd
4736 DEBUG: Dependent assemblies of c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\DLLs\select.pyd:
4736 DEBUG: *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4736 DEBUG: Skipping assembly *_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.0.0_none
4742 DEBUG: Skipping WS2_32.dll dependency of select.pyd
4744 DEBUG: Skipping KERNEL32.dll dependency of select.pyd
4744 DEBUG: Analyzing c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\api-ms-win-crt-utility-l1-1-0.dll
4748 INFO: Looking for eggs
4748 INFO: Using Python library c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\python36.dll
4748 INFO: Found binding redirects: 
[]
4757 INFO: Warnings written to C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\build\admin_tool\warn-admin_tool.txt
4812 INFO: Graph cross-reference written to C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\build\admin_tool\xref-admin_tool.html
4835 INFO: Graph drawing written to C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\build\admin_tool\graph-admin_tool.dot
4866 INFO: Appending 'datas' from .spec
4867 INFO: checking PYZ
4867 INFO: Building PYZ because PYZ-00.toc is non existent
4867 INFO: Building PYZ (ZlibArchive) C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\build\admin_tool\PYZ-00.pyz
5506 INFO: Building PYZ (ZlibArchive) C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\build\admin_tool\PYZ-00.pyz completed successfully.
5524 INFO: checking PKG
5524 INFO: Building PKG because PKG-00.toc is non existent
5524 INFO: Building PKG (CArchive) PKG-00.pkg
5600 DEBUG: Compiling c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\lib\site-packages\PyInstaller\loader\pyiboot01_bootstrap.py
5600 DEBUG: Compiling c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\lib\site-packages\PyInstaller\loader\pyiboot01_bootstrap.py
5602 DEBUG: Compiling C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\numeca\admin_tool\admin_tool.py
5602 DEBUG: Compiling C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\numeca\admin_tool\admin_tool.py
7195 INFO: Building PKG (CArchive) PKG-00.pkg completed successfully.
7204 INFO: Bootloader c:\users\vikramaditya\desktop\admin_tool_2to3\__build_artifacts__\_tmp_conda_env_3\build_env_windows\lib\site-packages\PyInstaller\bootloader\Windows-64bit\run.exe
7204 INFO: checking EXE
7204 INFO: Building EXE because EXE-00.toc is non existent
7204 INFO: Building EXE from EXE-00.toc
7204 INFO: Appending archive to EXE C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\dist\admin_tool.exe
7526 INFO: Building EXE from EXE-00.toc completed successfully.

However, when I try to run the executable it complains that "The program can't start because api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem". After days of searching this is what I know:

1. When the .exe is executed, api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dl is present in the temporary MEIPASS directory. As you will see below, the SetDllDirectory has been set to the MEIPASS directory
2. If that api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll is present in the same directory as the .exe, then it does not complain about this DLL. But it complains that it could not find another DLL api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-0.dll which is again presnt in the MEIPASS directory. If I copy all the DLLs from MEIPASS to the directory where I have the .exe, then it does not complain and the .exe executes normally.
3. After digging through the bootloader of pyinstaller, I see that the crash happens during the function LoadLibraryExW(dllpath_w, NULL, LOAD_WITH_ALTERED_SEARCH_PATH) where it is trying to laod the Python36.dll. Changing the dwFlags to LOAD_LIBRARY_SEARCH_DLL_LOAD_DIR is not an option as I do not have KB2533623 installed.
4. I have stripped down my original python script to a print("Hello World") and I am able to reproduce the issue even on that script.
5. The executable executes normally on other Windows7 and Windows 10 machines.
6. Including the DLLs from the CRT as mentioned in the pyinstaller documentation did not help.
7. If I set the environment variable PATH to the location of the DLLs then it works.

Here is the execution log:

[1128] PyInstaller Bootloader 3.x
[1128] LOADER: executable is C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\dist\admin_tool.exe
[1128] LOADER: homepath is C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\dist
[1128] LOADER: _MEIPASS2 is NULL
[1128] LOADER: archivename is C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\dist\admin_tool.exe
[1128] LOADER: Extracting binaries
[1128] LOADER: Executing self as child
[1128] LOADER: set _MEIPASS2 to C:\Users\vikramaditya\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI11282
[1128] LOADER: Setting up to run child
[1128] LOADER: Creating child process
[1128] LOADER: Waiting for child process to finish...
[1172] PyInstaller Bootloader 3.x
[1172] LOADER: executable is C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\dist\admin_tool.exe
[1172] LOADER: homepath is C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\dist
[1172] LOADER: _MEIPASS2 is C:\Users\vikramaditya\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI11282
[1172] LOADER: archivename is C:\Users\vikramaditya\Desktop\admin_tool_2to3\dist\admin_tool.exe
[1172] LOADER: SetDllDirectory(C:\Users\vikramaditya\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI11282)
[1172] LOADER: Already in the child - running user's code.
[1172] LOADER: manifestpath: C:\Users\vikramaditya\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI11282\admin_tool.exe.manifest
[1172] LOADER: Activation context created
[1172] LOADER: Activation context activated
[1172] LOADER: Python library: C:\Users\vikramaditya\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI11282\python36.dll

Has anyone come across something similar? Any ideas on what I should be looking for? I have tried various versions of python3 (the executable used to work correctly when I was on python2) and pyinstaller (3.3.1, 3.4, 3.5). As you can see from the execution log, the windows 7 version is 7-6.1.7600-SP0 which is not updated but pyinstaller still supports it.

Answer 1

I solved this by building a new bootloader for pyinstaller which would load the CRT DLLs prior to loading Python3x.DLL.

I am sure there must be a more elegant way to do solve the loading issue.