Can't even run packp3d -h

C:\Panda3D-1.7.2\bin>packp3d -h
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\direct\p3d\Ap
pRunner.py", line 36, in <module>
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\pandac\PandaM
odules.py", line 32, in <module>
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\pandac\libp3v
isionModules.py", line 2, in <module>
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\pandac\extens
ion_native_helpers.py", line 79, in Dtool_PreloadDLL
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified procedure could not be found.
Failure on startup.

I searched the forum and found a similar case

But I don’t know what is cause my packp3d to crap out.

Try installing the Visual C++ 2008 Runtime Redistributable.

Beside that I suggest you use version 1.8. 1.7.x is quite outdated by now.

It still craps out on 1.8

Failed to import direct.p3d.AppRunner
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\direct\p3d\Ap
pRunner.py", line 35, in <module>
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\direct\showba
se\DirectObject.py", line 7, in <module>
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\direct\showba
se\MessengerGlobal.py", line 5, in <module>
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\direct\showba
se\Messenger.py", line 81, in <module>
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\direct\stdpy\
threading.py", line 28, in <module>
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\pandac\PandaM
odules.py", line 32, in <module>
  File "VFSImporter", line 153, in load_module
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\pandac\libp3v
isionModules.py", line 2, in <module>
  File "C:\buildslave\release_rtdist_win32\build\panda3d\built_cmu\pandac\extens
ion_native_helpers.py", line 79, in Dtool_PreloadDLL
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified procedure could not be found.
Failure on startup.

It was still a simple -h call.

Ok I got it to work by calling packp3d in the runtime.

Such info really needs to be included in the manual. Probably in bold.