Error Message: The Shdocvw.dll File Is Linked to Missing...

ID: Q157246

3.00 WINDOWS kbui kberrmsg

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0, 4.0 for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click the Internet icon on the desktop, you may receive the following error message:

   Error Starting Program

   The SHDOCVW.DLL file is linked to missing export
   COMCTL32.DLL:InitCommonControlsEx.

CAUSE

This error can occur if the Comctl32.dll file is not the version required by Internet Explorer. The correct version for Internet Explorer 3.0 is 4.70, with a size of 379,152 bytes and a date of August 9, 1996. The correct version for Internet Explorer 4.0 is 4.71.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method:

Internet Explorer 4.0

Reinstall Internet Explorer to replace the Comctl32.dll file, or extract a new copy of the Comctl32.dll file. To extract a new copy of the Comctl32.dll file, follow these steps:

1. Restart Windows 95, press the F8 key when you see the "Starting Windows

   95" message, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the
   Startup menu.

2. Rename the Comctl32.dll file in the Windows\System folder to

   Comctl32.old by typing the following line and then pressing ENTER

      ren <drive>:\<windows>\system\comctl32.dll comctl32.old

   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Windows folder is
   located, and <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows is
   installed. For example:

      ren c:\windows\system\comctl32.dll comctl32.old

   NOTE: This procedure assumes you do not have a file named Comctl32.old.
   If you do have a file by this name, use a file name extension that is
   not currently in use.

3. Type the following line, and then press ENTER

      extract <drive>:<path>ie4_s1.cab /l <drive2>:<path2>

   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Internet Explorer 4.0
   Setup files are located, <path> is the path to the folder in which the
   Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files are located, <drive2> is the drive
   letter to which to extract the Ie4_1.cab file, and <path2> is the path
   to the folder to which to extract the Ie4_1.cab file. For example:

      extract c:\intern~1.0se\ie4_s1.cab /l c:\intern~1.0se

4. Type the following line, and then press ENTER

      extract <drive>:<path>comctl32.dll /l <drive2>:<path2>

   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Ie4_1.cab file is
   located, <path> is the path to the folder in which the Ie4_1.cab file
   is located, <drive2> is the drive on which Windows is installed, and
   <path2> is the location of the Windows\System folder. For example:

      extract c:\intern~1.0se\ie4_1.cab comctl32.dll /l c:\windows\system

5. Restart your computer.

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

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

Internet Explorer 3.0

Reinstall Internet Explorer to replace the Comctl32.dll file.

MORE INFORMATION

To determine the version, size, and date of the Comctl32.dll file, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

2. In the Named box, type "comctl32.dll" (without quotation marks), and

   then click Find Now.

3. Right-click the file located in the Windows\System folder, and then

   click Properties on the menu that appears.

4. On the General tab, note the file size and created date.

5. On the Version tab, note the file version, and then click OK.

KBCategory: kbui kberrmsg KBSubcategory: msiew95 Additional reference words: 3.00 4.00

Keywords          : msiew95 kbfaq
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: March 18, 1999