Err Msg: RUNDLL32.EXE Has Caused an Error in COMMCTRL.DLL

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

You may receive one of the following error messages and Windows 95 may stop responding (hang) or run with limited functionality:

• RUNDLL32.EXE has caused an error in COMMCTRL.DLL
• The COMCTL32.DLL file cannot start

CAUSE

These errors can occur if the Commctrl.dll file is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

2. Type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each line:

         cd \windows\system
         ren commctrl.dll commctrl.old
   

3. Use the Extract tool to extract the Kommctrl.dll file from the Precopy1.cab file on disk 1 of your Windows 95 disks or in the Win95 folder on the Windows 95 CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder.

   For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

         ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
         TITLE     : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
   
   

4. Type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

         cd \windows\system
         ren kommctrl.dll commctrl.dll
   

5. Type the following line, and then press ENTER:

         copy commctrl.dll c:\windows\sysbckup
   

   When you are prompted to overwrite the existing file, press Y.

6. Restart your computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Note that the Precopy1.cab file also contains a Commctrl.dll file. This file is used only by Setup. If you extract this file instead of the Kommctrl.dll file, Windows 95 will not run.