File Errors from 16-bit OLE Applications

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

You may encounter one or more of the following "File Error" error messages when you attempt to run a 16-bit Windows OLE application:

File Error
Cannot find file OLE2.DLL

File Error
Cannot find file STORAGE.DLL

File Error
Cannot find file COMPOBJ.DLL

File Error
Cannot find file OLE2DIST.DLL

CAUSE

The files are either missing or are in the %SystemRoot%\System directory instead of the %SystemRoot%\System32 directory.

Most DLL files for 16-bit Windows applications are located, by default, in the SYSTEM directory. The OLE DLL files for 16-bit Windows applications, however, are located, by default, in the SYSTEM32 directory because they are thunked by the operating system using their 32-bit counterparts (that is, the 32-bit counterpart for Ole2.dll is Ole32.dll).

RESOLUTION

Search your system partition for all of the OLE DLL files referenced in the error(s) you are receiving. If they do not exist on the system partition, then re-expand them from the Windows NT source media into the %SystemRoot%\System32 directory. If they exist elsewhere on the system partition (for example, in %SystemRoot%\System), move them into the %SystemRoot%\System32 directory and restart your application.

NOTE: If you have a service pack for Windows NT installed at the time you perform one of the procedures outlined above, it is advisable to reapply the service pack following the procedure because there may be an updated version of one or more of these files.

Keywords : nt16ap NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:3.1,3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb