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Rain7

Hi everyone,

Can anyone tell me what's wrong with my childrens' PC? I don't know what happened to it but now when it's turned on they get a message that says:

Error Starting Program
The COMCTL32.DLL file cannot start

Arghhh! I can't remember how many times their PC has been in the shop. Does anyone know how I can fix this? It won't let me do anything. The only thing that shows up on the screen besides the error message is a screensaver. No start button, nothing.

Please someone help this frustrated Mom! :-) Thanks!

madmatt2006

Hi Rain7 welcome to the forum

if the PC has windows XP try this.

Step 1.
To get into the Windows 2000 / XP Safe mode, as the computer is booting press and hold your "F8 Key" which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" as shown below. Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press your Enter key.

Step 2. follow these step and select a date a few days before you had the problem to restore to.
1.
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore.
2.
On the Welcome screen, click Restore my computer to an earlier time, and then click Next.
3.
On the Select a Restore Point page, select the date from the calendar that shows the point you'd like to restore to, as shown in Figure 2, and then click Next.

Figure 2

4.
On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, verify that the correct restore point is chosen, and then close any open programs.
5.
Click Next if you are ready to proceed or click Back to change the restore point.
6.
The computer will shut down automatically and reboot. On reboot, you'll see the Restoration Complete page, and then click OK.

Rain7

Hi, and thank you so much for your reply! The kids' PC is old and has Windows 98. I know, who has Windows 98? LOL. I'll still try what you suggested tomorrow (the kids are asleep right now). I hope it works. I think I could have purchased a new PC by now with all the service fees I've paid on that one! I really appreciate your help. Have a wonderful weekend!

madmatt2006 · 06:25 AM

Wait!! for windows 98 you need to do it this way

Under normal circumstances, Windows is capable of detecting and recovering from registry errors automatically. If Windows is incapable of this, a previous copy of the registry can be restored manually. Windows makes and stores a backup of the registry when you start your computer successfully each day. By default, five previous copies or the registry are stored. To restore one of these previous copies: 1.Start your computer, press and hold CTRL, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Windows 98 Startup menu. If you are running Windows Me, start your computer with the startup disk.2.At the MS-DOS prompt, type cd\windows\command, and then press ENTER. Where windows is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed.

3.At the C: prompt, type scanreg /restore, and then press ENTER.4.Select the previous registry you want to restore, and then press ENTER.NOTE: A properly working registry has the word "Started" next to the date.

5.When you receive notification that you restored a properly working registry, press ENTER to restart your computer.

if you still have the problem let me know I'm glad to help out

I used to love windows 98

Rain7

Hi again and thank you! I was so proud of myself 'cause I did everything exactly like you said and got the notification that I had restored a properly working registry...but...when I restarted the computer the error message was still there.

Any other ideas for me? I really do appreciate your help! I'm not giving up!
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ih8bills

Originally Posted by madmatt2006

Wait!! for windows 98 you need to do it this way

Under normal circumstances, Windows is capable of detecting and recovering from registry errors automatically. If Windows is incapable of this, a previous copy of the registry can be restored manually. Windows makes and stores a backup of the registry when you start your computer successfully each day. By default, five previous copies or the registry are stored. To restore one of these previous copies: 1.Start your computer, press and hold CTRL, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Windows 98 Startup menu. If you are running Windows Me, start your computer with the startup disk.2.At the MS-DOS prompt, type cd\windows\command, and then press ENTER. Where windows is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed.

3.At the C: prompt, type scanreg /restore, and then press ENTER.4.Select the previous registry you want to restore, and then press ENTER.NOTE: A properly working registry has the word "Started" next to the date.

5.When you receive notification that you restored a properly working registry, press ENTER to restart your computer.

if you still have the problem let me know I'm glad to help out I used to love windows 98

If he has no Win'98 setup disc of his own-- he could get one from here:
Bootdisk.Com - Free Windows Bootdisks, Free DOS boot disk

...right Matt? Unless that second error is pointing towards a failing harddrive? I am no all that familiar w'98 myself.... I went directly to XP.

Zachary

Here's a bit of info on the file, it's part of the Windows GUI:
comctl32.dll Information
You might have to replace the file in the end...