"Call to Undefined Dynalink" Message Appears Running Program

ID: Q111089

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Office for Windows, versions 4.2, 4.3
Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows, version 4.0
Microsoft Project for Windows, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you start any of the products listed at the beginning of this article, you may receive one of the following error messages or problems:

Program Error, Call to Undefined Dynalink

-or-

The server Program, source file, or item cannot be found. Make sure the Program is properly installed, and it has not been deleted, moved, or renamed.

-or-

This Program requires a newer version of Windows.

-or-

Sorry, PowerPoint cannot locate one of its components.

-or-

The mouse cursor changes into an hourglass, then changes back into an arrow and program does not start.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when a program attempts to access a dynamic link library (DLL) file that is outdated, is an incorrect version, is missing, or is damaged. When this occurs, the OLE Linking and Embedding files are mismatched or are the incorrect versions. Note that programs from third- party vendors may install different versions of some or all of these OLE files and replace the existing OLE files. When this occurs, the error messages listed in this article may appear.

This problem commonly occurs when the following OLE files are mismatched or are the incorrect versions:

compobj.dll
ole2.dll
ole2.reg
ole2conv.dll
ole2disp.dll
ole2nls.dll
ole2prox.dll
stdole.tlb
storage.dll
typelib.dll

Note: The files listed above are in the Windows\System folder.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, replace the affected OLE files. To do this, use one of the methods in this section.

NOTE: The following methods do not correct every problem that causes the error messages to appear; however, they do correct common causes of the error messages.

Method 1: Install the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer

NOTE: Use this method only if you use Microsoft Office 4.2 or 4.3.

A quick way to reinstall the OLE files is to install the PowerPoint Viewer program that comes with Microsoft Office 4.2 or 4.3. When you run Setup, the PowerPoint Viewer also copies the files that are listed in the "Cause" section. To install the PowerPoint Viewer, use the following steps:

Quit all open programs and close any toolbars.

Rename the files listed below. All of these files are located in the \Windows\System folder.
```
      compobj.dll
      ole2.dll
      ole2.reg
      ole2conv.dll
      ole2disp.dll
      ole2nls.dll
      ole2prox.dll
      stdole.tlb
      storage.dll
      typelib.dll 
```
For more information about how to rename files in Windows, see your Windows printed documentation or online Help.

If you are using a version of Microsoft Office that is on disks, insert the PowerPoint Viewer disk (usually the last disk) into the appropriate floppy disk drive and double-click Vsetup.exe to run it. If you are using a version of Microsoft Office 4.2 that is on a compact disc, run the Vsetup.exe file in the Setup.adm\Disk25 folder. If you are using Microsoft Office Professional, version 4.3, run the Vsetup.exe file in the Setup.adm\Disk31 folder.

NOTE: The PowerPoint Viewer is not available when you perform a network installation of Microsoft Office. To use this method with a copy of Microsoft Office that you installed from a network, you must have Access to the PowerPoint Viewer disk or a Microsoft Office compact disc.

Method 2: Reinstall the Program

The easiest way to replace the files listed in this article is to rename them, and then reinstall the program. To do this, follow these steps:

Quit all open programs and close any toolbars.

Rename the files listed below. All of these files are located in the \Windows\System folder.
```
      compobj.dll
      ole2.dll
      ole2.reg
      ole2conv.dll
      ole2disp.dll
      ole2nls.dll
      ole2prox.dll
      stdole.tlb
      storage.dll
      typelib.dll 
```
For more information about how to rename files in Windows, see your Windows printed documentation or online Help.

Run the Setup program in maintenance mode for the program that you want to reinstall and click Reinstall when the dialog box appears. Note that this step requires that you have your installation disks or compact disc.

Method 3: Obtain Updated OLE Files

For information about obtaining updated OLE files, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q123087 WW1116: OLE Version 2.03

Method 4: Copy New Files from the System Backup Folder

NOTE: Use this method only if you use Microsoft Windows 95.

Microsoft Windows 95 stores backup copies of integral system DLL files in the Sysbckup folder. You can copy the OLE files from the system backup directory. To do this, use the following steps:

Quit all open programs and close any toolbars.

Rename the files that are listed in the "Cause" section.

For more information about how to rename files in Windows, see your Windows printed documentation or online Help.

Copy the files that are listed in the "Cause" section from the Windows\Sysbckup folder to the Windows\System folder.

NOTE: The Sysbckup folder is a hidden folder. To see this folder, you must select "Show all files" in Windows Explorer. (In Windows Explorer, click Options on the View menu, click the View tab, click "Show all files" and click OK.)

Additional query words: msgbox module visual basic print preview synch quickly reinstall app application applications dynamic link


Keywords          : 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.2,4.3,5.0,5.0c,6.0,6.0a,6.0c
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: July 8, 1999