The COMCTL32.DLL file cannot start when I launch Windows

I receive this error when trying to boot into Safe Mode: "The COMCTL32.DLL
file cannot start. "Check the file to determine the problem". Although I
have carried out the steps necessary to resolve this problem by following the
guidelines on the Microsoft article @
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;298343, the problem
still persists when I try to boot into Windows in Safe Mode. I renamed the
comctl32.dll FILE to comctl32.old in the C:\Windows\System like in the
instructions, and then I extracted the comctl32.dll file from the
Win98_27.cab cabinet file from the CDROM's win98 directory to the
c:\Windows\System directory. I removed the boot disk and restarted the
machine in safe mode, but the same error message remains. I checked the
C:\Windows\System directory to ensure that the comctl32.dll was actually
extracted and it was listed @ 577,808 bytes - the previous version of the
file was listed at 548,624 bytes and the similar commctrl.dll file was listed
at 155,136 bytes. Anyway, the problem still exists despite following the
instructions on the website above. It is quite disappointing to have come so
far after overcoming many system file errors up to now using the extraction
method, and to be left with this problem now. I thought the Microsoft
article would have helped me with this problem as it reported exactly the
same error message. Unfortunately, the resolution to this problem does not
fix it. At this stage after spending a lot of time on this matter, I
probably have to come to terms with a reinstallation as I can't find any
solution to this current problem. If somebody out there as any other
suggestions, I would gladly welcome them.

Trusting that somebody will assist me with this matter if possible.

Thanks,

Martin Healy

See if these articles help:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=298343

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=137273

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP Windows 98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Martin Healy" wrote in message
...
I receive this error when trying to boot into Safe Mode: "The COMCTL32.DLL
file cannot start. "Check the file to determine the problem". Although I
have carried out the steps necessary to resolve this problem by following
the
guidelines on the Microsoft article @
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;298343, the
problem
still persists when I try to boot into Windows in Safe Mode. I renamed
the
comctl32.dll FILE to comctl32.old in the C:\Windows\System like in the
instructions, and then I extracted the comctl32.dll file from the
Win98_27.cab cabinet file from the CDROM's win98 directory to the
c:\Windows\System directory. I removed the boot disk and restarted the
machine in safe mode, but the same error message remains. I checked the
C:\Windows\System directory to ensure that the comctl32.dll was actually
extracted and it was listed @ 577,808 bytes - the previous version of the
file was listed at 548,624 bytes and the similar commctrl.dll file was
listed
at 155,136 bytes. Anyway, the problem still exists despite following the
instructions on the website above. It is quite disappointing to have come
so
far after overcoming many system file errors up to now using the
extraction
method, and to be left with this problem now. I thought the Microsoft
article would have helped me with this problem as it reported exactly the
same error message. Unfortunately, the resolution to this problem does
not
fix it. At this stage after spending a lot of time on this matter, I
probably have to come to terms with a reinstallation as I can't find any
solution to this current problem. If somebody out there as any other
suggestions, I would gladly welcome them.

Trusting that somebody will assist me with this matter if possible.

Thanks,

Martin Healy