diff --git a/comtypes/__init__.py b/comtypes/___init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from comtypes/__init__.py
rename to comtypes/___init__.py
diff --git a/comtypes/_base.py b/comtypes/_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..45d27ad89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/comtypes/_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,591 @@
+# comtypes version numbers follow semver (http://semver.org/) and PEP 440
+__version__ = "1.4.4"
+
+import atexit
+from ctypes import *
+from ctypes import _Pointer, _SimpleCData
+
+try:
+    from _ctypes import COMError  # noqa
+except ImportError as e:
+    msg = "\n".join(
+        (
+            "COM technology not available (maybe it's the wrong platform).",
+            "Note that COM is only supported on Windows.",
+            "For more details, please check: "
+            "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/com",
+        )
+    )
+    raise ImportError(msg) from e
+import logging
+import sys
+
+# fmt: off
+from typing import (  # noqa
+    Any, ClassVar, overload, TYPE_CHECKING, TypeVar,
+    # instead of `builtins`. see PEP585
+    Dict, List, Tuple, Type,
+    # instead of `collections.abc`. see PEP585
+    Callable, Iterable, Iterator,
+    # instead of `A | B` and `None | A`. see PEP604
+    Optional, Union as _UnionT,  # avoiding confusion with `ctypes.Union`
+)
+# fmt: on
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from ctypes import _CData  # only in `typeshed`, private in runtime
+    from comtypes import hints as hints  # noqa  # type: ignore
+else:
+    _CData = _SimpleCData.__mro__[:-1][-1]
+
+from comtypes.GUID import GUID
+from comtypes import patcher  # noqa
+from comtypes._npsupport import interop as npsupport  # noqa
+from comtypes._memberspec import _encode_idl  # noqa
+from comtypes._tlib_version_checker import _check_version  # noqa
+from comtypes._bstr import BSTR  # noqa
+from comtypes._py_instance_method import instancemethod  # noqa
+from comtypes._idl_stuff import defaultvalue, helpstring, dispid  # noqa
+from comtypes._idl_stuff import STDMETHOD, DISPMETHOD, DISPPROPERTY, COMMETHOD  # noqa
+
+_all_slice = slice(None, None, None)
+
+
+class NullHandler(logging.Handler):
+    """A Handler that does nothing."""
+
+    def emit(self, record):
+        pass
+
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# Add a NULL handler to the comtypes logger.  This prevents getting a
+# message like this:
+#    No handlers could be found for logger "comtypes"
+# when logging is not configured and logger.error() is called.
+logger.addHandler(NullHandler())
+
+
+class ReturnHRESULT(Exception):
+    """ReturnHRESULT(hresult, text)
+
+    Return a hresult code from a COM method implementation
+    without logging an error.
+    """
+
+
+# class IDLWarning(UserWarning):
+#    "Warn about questionable type information"
+
+_GUID = GUID
+IID = GUID
+DWORD = c_ulong
+
+wireHWND = c_ulong
+
+################################################################
+# About COM apartments:
+# http://blogs.msdn.com/larryosterman/archive/2004/04/28/122240.aspx
+################################################################
+
+################################################################
+# constants for object creation
+CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER = 1
+CLSCTX_INPROC_HANDLER = 2
+CLSCTX_LOCAL_SERVER = 4
+
+CLSCTX_INPROC = 3
+CLSCTX_SERVER = 5
+CLSCTX_ALL = 7
+
+CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER16 = 8
+CLSCTX_REMOTE_SERVER = 16
+CLSCTX_INPROC_HANDLER16 = 32
+CLSCTX_RESERVED1 = 64
+CLSCTX_RESERVED2 = 128
+CLSCTX_RESERVED3 = 256
+CLSCTX_RESERVED4 = 512
+CLSCTX_NO_CODE_DOWNLOAD = 1024
+CLSCTX_RESERVED5 = 2048
+CLSCTX_NO_CUSTOM_MARSHAL = 4096
+CLSCTX_ENABLE_CODE_DOWNLOAD = 8192
+CLSCTX_NO_FAILURE_LOG = 16384
+CLSCTX_DISABLE_AAA = 32768
+CLSCTX_ENABLE_AAA = 65536
+CLSCTX_FROM_DEFAULT_CONTEXT = 131072
+
+tagCLSCTX = c_int  # enum
+CLSCTX = tagCLSCTX
+
+# Constants for security setups
+SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY_UNICODE = 0x2
+RPC_C_AUTHN_WINNT = 10
+RPC_C_AUTHZ_NONE = 0
+RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CONNECT = 2
+RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE = 3
+EOAC_NONE = 0
+
+
+################################################################
+# Initialization and shutdown
+_ole32 = oledll.ole32
+_ole32_nohresult = windll.ole32  # use this for functions that don't return a HRESULT
+
+COINIT_MULTITHREADED = 0x0
+COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED = 0x2
+COINIT_DISABLE_OLE1DDE = 0x4
+COINIT_SPEED_OVER_MEMORY = 0x8
+
+
+def CoInitialize():
+    return CoInitializeEx(COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED)
+
+
+def CoInitializeEx(flags=None):
+    if flags is None:
+        flags = getattr(sys, "coinit_flags", COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED)
+    logger.debug("CoInitializeEx(None, %s)", flags)
+    _ole32.CoInitializeEx(None, flags)
+
+
+# COM is initialized automatically for the thread that imports this
+# module for the first time.  sys.coinit_flags is passed as parameter
+# to CoInitializeEx, if defined, otherwise COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED
+# (COINIT_MULTITHREADED on Windows CE) is used.
+#
+# A shutdown function is registered with atexit, so that
+# CoUninitialize is called when Python is shut down.
+CoInitializeEx()
+
+
+# We need to have CoUninitialize for multithreaded model where we have
+# to initialize and uninitialize COM for every new thread (except main)
+# in which we are using COM
+def CoUninitialize():
+    logger.debug("CoUninitialize()")
+    _ole32_nohresult.CoUninitialize()
+
+
+################################################################
+# global registries.
+
+# allows to find interface classes by guid strings (iid)
+com_interface_registry = {}
+
+# allows to find coclasses by guid strings (clsid)
+com_coclass_registry = {}
+
+
+def _is_object(obj):
+    """This function determines if the argument is a COM object.  It
+    is used in several places to determine whether propputref or
+    propput setters have to be used."""
+    from comtypes.automation import VARIANT
+
+    # A COM pointer is an 'Object'
+    if isinstance(obj, POINTER(IUnknown)):
+        return True
+    # A COM pointer in a VARIANT is an 'Object', too
+    elif isinstance(obj, VARIANT) and isinstance(obj.value, POINTER(IUnknown)):
+        return True
+    # It may be a dynamic dispatch object.
+    return hasattr(obj, "_comobj")
+
+
+################################################################
+# IUnknown, the root of all evil...
+
+_T_IUnknown = TypeVar("_T_IUnknown", bound="IUnknown")
+
+from comtypes.unknwn import IUnknown, _shutdown  # noqa
+
+atexit.register(_shutdown)
+
+
+################################################################
+# IPersist is a trivial interface, which allows to ask an object about
+# its clsid.
+class IPersist(IUnknown):
+    _iid_ = GUID("{0000010C-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}")
+    _idlflags_ = []
+    _methods_ = [
+        COMMETHOD([], HRESULT, "GetClassID", (["out"], POINTER(GUID), "pClassID")),
+    ]
+    if TYPE_CHECKING:
+        # Should this be "normal" method that calls `self._GetClassID`?
+        def GetClassID(self) -> GUID:
+            """Returns the CLSID that uniquely represents an object class that
+            defines the code that can manipulate the object's data.
+            """
+            ...
+
+
+class IServiceProvider(IUnknown):
+    _iid_ = GUID("{6D5140C1-7436-11CE-8034-00AA006009FA}")
+    _QueryService: Callable[[Any, Any, Any], int]
+    # Overridden QueryService to make it nicer to use (passing it an
+    # interface and it returns a pointer to that interface)
+    def QueryService(
+        self, serviceIID: GUID, interface: Type[_T_IUnknown]
+    ) -> _T_IUnknown:
+        p = POINTER(interface)()
+        self._QueryService(byref(serviceIID), byref(interface._iid_), byref(p))
+        return p  # type: ignore
+
+    _methods_ = [
+        COMMETHOD(
+            [],
+            HRESULT,
+            "QueryService",
+            (["in"], POINTER(GUID), "guidService"),
+            (["in"], POINTER(GUID), "riid"),
+            (["in"], POINTER(c_void_p), "ppvObject"),
+        )
+    ]
+
+
+################################################################
+
+
+@overload
+def CoGetObject(displayname: str, interface: None) -> IUnknown:
+    ...
+
+
+@overload
+def CoGetObject(displayname: str, interface: Type[_T_IUnknown]) -> _T_IUnknown:
+    ...
+
+
+def CoGetObject(displayname: str, interface: Optional[Type[IUnknown]]) -> IUnknown:
+    """Convert a displayname to a moniker, then bind and return the object
+    identified by the moniker."""
+    if interface is None:
+        interface = IUnknown
+    punk = POINTER(interface)()
+    # Do we need a way to specify the BIND_OPTS parameter?
+    _ole32.CoGetObject(str(displayname), None, byref(interface._iid_), byref(punk))
+    return punk  # type: ignore
+
+
+_pUnkOuter = Type["_Pointer[IUnknown]"]
+
+
+@overload
+def CoCreateInstance(
+    clsid: GUID,
+    interface: None = None,
+    clsctx: Optional[int] = None,
+    punkouter: Optional[_pUnkOuter] = None,
+) -> IUnknown:
+    ...
+
+
+@overload
+def CoCreateInstance(
+    clsid: GUID,
+    interface: Type[_T_IUnknown],
+    clsctx: Optional[int] = None,
+    punkouter: Optional[_pUnkOuter] = None,
+) -> _T_IUnknown:
+    ...
+
+
+def CoCreateInstance(
+    clsid: GUID,
+    interface: Optional[Type[IUnknown]] = None,
+    clsctx: Optional[int] = None,
+    punkouter: Optional[_pUnkOuter] = None,
+) -> IUnknown:
+    """The basic windows api to create a COM class object and return a
+    pointer to an interface.
+    """
+    if clsctx is None:
+        clsctx = CLSCTX_SERVER
+    if interface is None:
+        interface = IUnknown
+    p = POINTER(interface)()
+    iid = interface._iid_
+    _ole32.CoCreateInstance(byref(clsid), punkouter, clsctx, byref(iid), byref(p))
+    return p  # type: ignore
+
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+
+    @overload
+    def CoGetClassObject(clsid, clsctx=None, pServerInfo=None, interface=None):
+        # type: (GUID, Optional[int], Optional[COSERVERINFO], None) -> hints.IClassFactory
+        pass
+
+    @overload
+    def CoGetClassObject(clsid, clsctx=None, pServerInfo=None, interface=None):
+        # type: (GUID, Optional[int], Optional[COSERVERINFO], Type[_T_IUnknown]) -> _T_IUnknown
+        pass
+
+
+def CoGetClassObject(clsid, clsctx=None, pServerInfo=None, interface=None):
+    # type: (GUID, Optional[int], Optional[COSERVERINFO], Optional[Type[IUnknown]]) -> IUnknown
+    if clsctx is None:
+        clsctx = CLSCTX_SERVER
+    if interface is None:
+        import comtypes.server
+
+        interface = comtypes.server.IClassFactory
+    p = POINTER(interface)()
+    _CoGetClassObject(clsid, clsctx, pServerInfo, interface._iid_, byref(p))
+    return p  # type: ignore
+
+
+@overload
+def GetActiveObject(clsid: GUID, interface: None = None) -> IUnknown:
+    ...
+
+
+@overload
+def GetActiveObject(clsid: GUID, interface: Type[_T_IUnknown]) -> _T_IUnknown:
+    ...
+
+
+def GetActiveObject(
+    clsid: GUID, interface: Optional[Type[IUnknown]] = None
+) -> IUnknown:
+    """Retrieves a pointer to a running object"""
+    p = POINTER(IUnknown)()
+    oledll.oleaut32.GetActiveObject(byref(clsid), None, byref(p))
+    if interface is not None:
+        p = p.QueryInterface(interface)  # type: ignore
+    return p  # type: ignore
+
+
+class MULTI_QI(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [("pIID", POINTER(GUID)), ("pItf", POINTER(c_void_p)), ("hr", HRESULT)]
+    if TYPE_CHECKING:
+        pIID: GUID
+        pItf: _Pointer[c_void_p]
+        hr: HRESULT
+
+
+class _COAUTHIDENTITY(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("User", POINTER(c_ushort)),
+        ("UserLength", c_ulong),
+        ("Domain", POINTER(c_ushort)),
+        ("DomainLength", c_ulong),
+        ("Password", POINTER(c_ushort)),
+        ("PasswordLength", c_ulong),
+        ("Flags", c_ulong),
+    ]
+
+
+COAUTHIDENTITY = _COAUTHIDENTITY
+
+
+class _COAUTHINFO(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("dwAuthnSvc", c_ulong),
+        ("dwAuthzSvc", c_ulong),
+        ("pwszServerPrincName", c_wchar_p),
+        ("dwAuthnLevel", c_ulong),
+        ("dwImpersonationLevel", c_ulong),
+        ("pAuthIdentityData", POINTER(_COAUTHIDENTITY)),
+        ("dwCapabilities", c_ulong),
+    ]
+
+
+COAUTHINFO = _COAUTHINFO
+
+
+class _COSERVERINFO(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("dwReserved1", c_ulong),
+        ("pwszName", c_wchar_p),
+        ("pAuthInfo", POINTER(_COAUTHINFO)),
+        ("dwReserved2", c_ulong),
+    ]
+    if TYPE_CHECKING:
+        dwReserved1: int
+        pwszName: Optional[str]
+        pAuthInfo: _COAUTHINFO
+        dwReserved2: int
+
+
+COSERVERINFO = _COSERVERINFO
+_CoGetClassObject = _ole32.CoGetClassObject
+_CoGetClassObject.argtypes = [
+    POINTER(GUID),
+    DWORD,
+    POINTER(COSERVERINFO),
+    POINTER(GUID),
+    POINTER(c_void_p),
+]
+
+
+class tagBIND_OPTS(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("cbStruct", c_ulong),
+        ("grfFlags", c_ulong),
+        ("grfMode", c_ulong),
+        ("dwTickCountDeadline", c_ulong),
+    ]
+
+
+# XXX Add __init__ which sets cbStruct?
+BIND_OPTS = tagBIND_OPTS
+
+
+class tagBIND_OPTS2(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("cbStruct", c_ulong),
+        ("grfFlags", c_ulong),
+        ("grfMode", c_ulong),
+        ("dwTickCountDeadline", c_ulong),
+        ("dwTrackFlags", c_ulong),
+        ("dwClassContext", c_ulong),
+        ("locale", c_ulong),
+        ("pServerInfo", POINTER(_COSERVERINFO)),
+    ]
+
+
+# XXX Add __init__ which sets cbStruct?
+BINDOPTS2 = tagBIND_OPTS2
+
+# Structures for security setups
+#########################################
+class _SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("User", POINTER(c_ushort)),
+        ("UserLength", c_ulong),
+        ("Domain", POINTER(c_ushort)),
+        ("DomainLength", c_ulong),
+        ("Password", POINTER(c_ushort)),
+        ("PasswordLength", c_ulong),
+        ("Flags", c_ulong),
+    ]
+
+
+SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY = _SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY
+
+
+class _SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_INFO(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("dwAuthnSvc", c_ulong),
+        ("dwAuthzSvc", c_ulong),
+        ("pAuthInfo", POINTER(_SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY)),
+    ]
+
+
+SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_INFO = _SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_INFO
+
+
+class _SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_LIST(Structure):
+    _fields_ = [
+        ("cAuthInfo", c_ulong),
+        ("pAuthInfo", POINTER(_SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_INFO)),
+    ]
+
+
+SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_LIST = _SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_LIST
+
+
+@overload
+def CoCreateInstanceEx(
+    clsid: GUID,
+    interface: None = None,
+    clsctx: Optional[int] = None,
+    machine: Optional[str] = None,
+    pServerInfo: Optional[COSERVERINFO] = None,
+) -> IUnknown:
+    ...
+
+
+@overload
+def CoCreateInstanceEx(
+    clsid: GUID,
+    interface: Type[_T_IUnknown],
+    clsctx: Optional[int] = None,
+    machine: Optional[str] = None,
+    pServerInfo: Optional[COSERVERINFO] = None,
+) -> _T_IUnknown:
+    ...
+
+
+def CoCreateInstanceEx(
+    clsid: GUID,
+    interface: Optional[Type[IUnknown]] = None,
+    clsctx: Optional[int] = None,
+    machine: Optional[str] = None,
+    pServerInfo: Optional[COSERVERINFO] = None,
+) -> IUnknown:
+    """The basic windows api to create a COM class object and return a
+    pointer to an interface, possibly on another machine.
+
+    Passing both "machine" and "pServerInfo" results in a ValueError.
+
+    """
+    if clsctx is None:
+        clsctx = CLSCTX_LOCAL_SERVER | CLSCTX_REMOTE_SERVER
+
+    if pServerInfo is not None:
+        if machine is not None:
+            msg = "Can not specify both machine name and server info"
+            raise ValueError(msg)
+    elif machine is not None:
+        serverinfo = COSERVERINFO()
+        serverinfo.pwszName = machine
+        pServerInfo = byref(serverinfo)  # type: ignore
+
+    if interface is None:
+        interface = IUnknown
+    multiqi = MULTI_QI()
+    multiqi.pIID = pointer(interface._iid_)  # type: ignore
+    _ole32.CoCreateInstanceEx(
+        byref(clsid), None, clsctx, pServerInfo, 1, byref(multiqi)
+    )
+    return cast(multiqi.pItf, POINTER(interface))  # type: ignore
+
+
+################################################################
+from comtypes._comobject import COMObject
+
+# What's a coclass?
+# a POINTER to a coclass is allowed as parameter in a function declaration:
+# http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/midl/midl/oleautomation.asp
+
+from comtypes._meta import _coclass_meta
+
+
+class CoClass(COMObject, metaclass=_coclass_meta):
+    pass
+
+
+################################################################
+
+
+# fmt: off
+__known_symbols__ = [
+    "BIND_OPTS", "tagBIND_OPTS", "BINDOPTS2", "tagBIND_OPTS2", "BSTR",
+    "_check_version", "CLSCTX", "tagCLSCTX", "CLSCTX_ALL",
+    "CLSCTX_DISABLE_AAA", "CLSCTX_ENABLE_AAA", "CLSCTX_ENABLE_CODE_DOWNLOAD",
+    "CLSCTX_FROM_DEFAULT_CONTEXT", "CLSCTX_INPROC", "CLSCTX_INPROC_HANDLER",
+    "CLSCTX_INPROC_HANDLER16", "CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER",
+    "CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER16", "CLSCTX_LOCAL_SERVER", "CLSCTX_NO_CODE_DOWNLOAD",
+    "CLSCTX_NO_CUSTOM_MARSHAL", "CLSCTX_NO_FAILURE_LOG",
+    "CLSCTX_REMOTE_SERVER", "CLSCTX_RESERVED1", "CLSCTX_RESERVED2",
+    "CLSCTX_RESERVED3", "CLSCTX_RESERVED4", "CLSCTX_RESERVED5",
+    "CLSCTX_SERVER", "_COAUTHIDENTITY", "COAUTHIDENTITY", "_COAUTHINFO",
+    "COAUTHINFO", "CoClass", "CoCreateInstance", "CoCreateInstanceEx",
+    "_CoGetClassObject", "CoGetClassObject", "CoGetObject",
+    "COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED", "COINIT_DISABLE_OLE1DDE",
+    "COINIT_MULTITHREADED", "COINIT_SPEED_OVER_MEMORY", "CoInitialize",
+    "CoInitializeEx", "COMError", "COMMETHOD", "COMObject", "_COSERVERINFO",
+    "COSERVERINFO", "CoUninitialize", "dispid", "DISPMETHOD", "DISPPROPERTY",
+    "DWORD", "EOAC_NONE", "GetActiveObject", "_GUID", "GUID", "helpstring",
+    "IID", "IPersist", "IServiceProvider", "IUnknown", "MULTI_QI",
+    "ReturnHRESULT", "RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CONNECT", "RPC_C_AUTHN_WINNT",
+    "RPC_C_AUTHZ_NONE", "RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE",
+    "_SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY", "SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY",
+    "SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY_UNICODE", "_SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_INFO",
+    "SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_INFO", "_SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_LIST",
+    "SOLE_AUTHENTICATION_LIST", "STDMETHOD", "wireHWND",
+]
+# fmt: on