My computer can't open anything with a .dll extension. I've tried associating with programmes but no luck. Can anyone advise what I should try, or do I have to call in a professional. I know nothing technical about computers. This all started after daughter was downloading music. HELP please!

Is this a new problem? Were things working OK previously? Any new hardware or software?

If this is a new problem try a System Restore to a point prior to the problem:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Originally Posted by jephree

Is this a new problem? Were things working OK previously? Any new hardware or software?

If this is a new problem try a System Restore to a point prior to the problem:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Yes, this problem started after my daughter tried downloading music to an iPod. I've tried RegScan but when it has been installed it wont open either because it still says error on Oleaut32.dll. I'll try system restore and let you know how it goes. Thanks.

Tried what you suggested. My Windows is 98. System Tools doesn't give me a System Repair option but does have scandisk which I tried. This told me no errors found and the problem remains exactly the same. Is there anything else I could try? Thanks.

Hold on a moment - let's go back to the beginning. Why are you trying to open a DLL file? DLL files are programming files used to create programs - they don't contain any comprehensible information for users. DLL files are not something that you could have created yourself like a Microsoft Word document or Excel spreadsheet.

If you are trying to re-register a DLL file to fix a faulty program, that's a completely different question but I'll be happy to advise you how to do it

Incidentally, this topic is more appropriate for the Windows 98 board in the forum as that's where you'll find the most people with the right skills to help you solve it. I've moved the message thread for you

Right. When I start up the computer everything comes up OK with all the icons etc on the screen. When I click on my internet connection icon the message comes up oleaut32.dll check file.

This message also comes up when clicking on some of the other icons. Only some local stuff will work like Word.

(When I searched for the file oleaut32.dll and asked it to open I got the message asking me to associate it with a programme. When I clicked rundll32.exe nothing happened. That's why I was looking at that stuff and of course not knowing what I am doing I was just trying it to see if it would work!)

I tried to use RegScan by downloading it on to a disk at work and taking it home. I installed it but when I clicked on the icon on the desktop I got the same message again.

Thanks

hi there,

I vaguely remember having a problem with that specific dll file (in the old days of 98 - not to put it down or anything). Try this link:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;259403

and then download and install the following file

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...tsetup_enu.exe

This should re-register that dll file with an updated version which should get rid of any message.. hopefully.. this is through a very hazy memory of this problem but it has something to do with re-registering the file.

Let us know how you go

Regards
Mathias

Good advice Mathias. There is a quicker way of just re-registering the OLEAUT32.DLL file but I like your approach - it's more thorough

Thanks for your help guys. I did try to get the programme you suggested by going to my local library. Got home, put disc in and computer said I did not have a cd drive (despite having a reader and a writer which was added last year). Tried to save stuff on the C drive to a memory stick but it wouldnt recognise that either. The only thing working was the A drive (that shows how old it is). So I'll have to get stuff off that way. The whole thing became such a nightmare that I gave in and got a new computer. I know that's not very helpful to other people out there but my stress levels were at an all time high!! and I had had enough of trying to resuscitate the old one.

I will happily make a donation to help keep this fantastic site going and who knows with the new XP home I just might need it!

Roberta

Glad to hear that you've got around the problem, although buying a new PC is a bit more drastic than most of the solutions that we end with on D-A-L.com!!

Saving data to floppy disks would take most people an eternity (and some data won't go onto floppy at all because the files are simply too big). If you have quite a bit of data that's important to you, you may be interested to know that one of the services that my IT business offers is data recovery. We can recover data from your hard disk and send it back to you on CD. Feel free to click on the web site link in my signature (the web site has our full contact details) if you would like more information

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