Only One or Two Icons in Control Panel

 Last reviewed: August 17, 1995
Article ID: Q86531
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When you run Microsoft Windows version 3.1 Control Panel, only one or two icons appear.

CAUSE

One of the following files may be missing or corrupt, or the files may be located in the Windows directory, instead of the Windows \SYSTEM directory.

  • COMMDLG.DLL
  • VER.DLL
  • LZEXPAND.DLL

WORKAROUND

To resolve the problem, use the EXPAND.EXE utility to reinstall the .DLL file(s) from the Windows 3.1 Setup disks. (COMMDLG.DLL is on disk4 of the 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch disks.)

MORE INFORMATION

If one of these files is corrupted, Control Panel only displays one icon in standard mode and two icons in 386 enhanced mode.

Other symptoms occur when starting an application that uses the COMMDLG.DLL file, such as Write or Notepad. An error occurs if an application tries to use COMMDLG.DLL and the file is corrupted. The following error message may be generated: 

   One of the library files needed to run this application is damaged.
   Please reinstall this application.

KBCategory: kbsetup kbprb
KBSubcategory: win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11 2 1

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Last reviewed: August 17, 1995
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