Error Message: The Comdlg32.dll File Cannot Start

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release versions 2, 2.1

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start a program in Windows 95, you may receive one of the following error messages:

• Error starting program. The Comdlg32.dll file cannot start. Check the file to determine the problem.
• Error starting program. The Shell32.dll file cannot start. Check the file to determine the problem.
• Error starting program. The Lz32.dll file cannot start. Check the file to determine the problem.
• Error starting program. The Version.dll file cannot start. Check the file to determine the problem.
• Error starting program. The Winmm.dll file cannot start. Check the file to determine the problem.

CAUSE

Some programs replace Windows 95 files with their own files. The Windows 95 Commdlg.dll, Shell.dll, Lzexpand.dll, Ver.dll, or Mmsystem.dll file may have been replaced by a file from another program.

RESOLUTION

You should replace the file listed in the error message you received. In the instructions that follow, replace <name> with the name of the appropriate file. This file will be one of the following files:

• Commdlg.dll
• Shell.dll
• Lzexpand.dll
• Ver.dll
• Mmsystem.dll

NOTE: The program that replaced the <name> file with another version of the file may have set some of the <name> file's attributes. If you are having trouble copying the file from the Windows\Sysbckup folder to the Windows\System folder, use Windows Explorer to check the <name> file's properties. If the file's Read-Only, Hidden, or System properties are selected, click those check boxes to clear them.

If the <name> file in the Windows\Sysbckup folder is damaged or is not the correct version of the file, extract a new version of the file from your original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder. To extract a new copy of the <name> file, you need to perform one of the following steps, depending on the file:

• Extract the Commdlg.new file from the Win95_11.cab file to the Windows\System folder, and then rename the Commdlg.new file to Commdlg.dll.
• Extract the Shell.new file from the Win95_11.cab file to the Windows\System folder, and then rename the Shell.new file to Shell.dll.
• Extract the Lzexpand.dll file from the Precopy1.cab file to the Windows\System folder.
• Extract the Ver.new file from the Win95_17.cab file to the Windows\System folder, and then rename the Ver.new file to Ver.dll.
• Extract the Mmsystem.dll file from the Win95_13.cab file to the Windows\System folder.

For information about using the EXTRACT command to extract a file, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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