Microsoft Knowledge Base

Error Message: A Required .dll File...Was Not Found
Last reviewed: January 14, 1997
Article ID: Q155401
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

You may experience either or both of the following symptoms:

  • The toolbar does not appear in Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 95.
  • When you start your computer, you receive the following error message: 

          A required .DLL file, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\COMCTL32.DLL, was not found

    When you click OK, you receive the following message: 

          Error loading Explorer.exe
      You must reinstall Windows

    When you click OK, the first error message appears again, and then the computer stops responding (hangs).

CAUSE

These symptoms can occur if you are using the wrong version of the Comctl32.dll file, or if the Comctl32.dll file is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

If the toolbar is missing in Internet Explorer, follow these steps:

  1. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.

  2. In the list of installed programs, click Internet Explorer 3.0.

  3. Click Remove.

  4. After Internet Explorer is removed, reinstall it.

If you receive the error messages, follow these steps to replace the Comctl32.dll file:

  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. Insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM or disk 11 in the appropriate drive.

  3. If you are using the CD-ROM, type the following line 

          extract <d>:\win95\win95_10.cab comctl32.dll /l c:\windows\system

    where <d> is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive.

    If you are using disk 11, type the following line 

          extract <x>:\win95_11.cab comctl32.dll /l c:\windows\system

    where <x> is the drive containing disk 11.

  4. Restart the computer.

  5. Follow the steps in the section above to correct the missing Internet Explorer 3.0 toolbar.

MORE INFORMATION

Internet Explorer 3.0 installs an updated Comctl32.dll file. If Windows 95 is reinstalled, the file may be replaced with the earlier version. During Windows 95 Setup, answer Yes when you are prompted "Do you want to keep this file?" for the Comctl32.dll file to keep the Internet Explorer 3.0 version.

KBCategory: kbtool kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: msiew95
Additional reference words: 3.00

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Last reviewed: January 14, 1997
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.