If you call LoadLibrary without a path (e.g., LoadLibrary(\"whatever.dll\"), Windows will generally follow its standard search algorithm, the same
LoadLibrary
LoadLibrary(\"whatever.dll\")
To probe the loader when having troubles with missing libraries, you can use the "sxstrace" feature. www.codeproject.com/KB/DLL/QueryAssemblyIdentities.aspx gives some details about the dependencies between manifest and WinSxs.