Error Message: Error 745: An Essential File Is Missing

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release version 2

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to connect to a remote computer using Dial-Up Networking, you may receive the following error message:

   Error 745: An essential file is missing.
   Re-install Dial-Up Networking.

CAUSE

This error message can occur when a Dial-Up Networking dynamic-link library (DLL) file is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

To resolve this issue, remove and reinstall Dial-Up Networking. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

3. Click the Windows Setup tab, click Communications, and then click Details.

4. Click the Dial-Up Networking check box to clear it, click OK, and then click OK again.

5. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart Your Computer, and then click Yes.

6. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.

7. If it exists, rename the Rasapi32.dll file located in the Windows\System folder.

   For information about how to rename a file, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type "renaming" (without quotation marks), and then double-click the "Renaming files" topic.

8. Extract a new copy of the Rasapi32.dll file from your original Windows 95 CD-ROM or floppy disks into the Windows\System folder. To do this, use the method appropriate for the media on which you have Windows 95.

Extracting Rasapi32.dll from the Windows 95 CD-ROM

1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.

2. Type "cd\" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

3. Insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then close the Windows 95 screen if it appears.

4. Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press ENTER

         extract /a <drive>:\win95\win95_02.cab rasapi32.dll /l
         c:\<windows>\system
   

         where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive, and
         where <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows is
         installed.
   

5. Type "exit" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER to return to windows.

Extracting Rasapi32.dll from the Windows 95 Floppy Disks

1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.

2. Type "cd\" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

3. Insert disk 10 of the Windows 95 disks into the floppy disk drive.

4. Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press ENTER

   extract /a <drive>:\Win95_10.cab rasapi32.dll /l c:\<windows>\system

   where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to the floppy disk drive the Windows 95 floppy disk is located in, and where <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed.

5. Type "exit" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER to return to windows.

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

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
      RemoteAccess\Authentication