OFF: "Setup cannot register Mfc40.dll" Error Message (178652)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Office for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Office for Windows 95 7.0a
  • Microsoft Office for Windows 95 7.0b
This article was previously published under Q178652

SYMPTOMS

When you run the Microsoft Office Setup program, you may receive the following error message
Unable to register Mfc40.dll
followed by:
Setup cannot register Mfc40.dll in the system registry because an older version is in use. Close all applications and try again.

CAUSE

Another program is running that is using any version of the file Mfc40.dll.

RESOLUTION

Close all programs by removing the icons from the Startup folder and closing any programs that are on the taskbar. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar.
  2. Click the Start Menu Programs tab, and then click Advanced.
  3. Double-click the Programs folder, and then double-click the Startup folder. Make a note of the icons that are in the Startup folder.
  4. Drag all icons from the Startup folder to the Programs folder.
  5. Click the Start button, click Shut down.
  6. Click Restart and then click OK to restart the computer.
  7. Right-click each program that appears on the Windows Taskbar and then click Close.
  8. Close all tasks except Systray and Explorer. To do this, press CTRL+ALT+DEL to display the Task List. In the Close Program dialog box, click the task you want to close, and then click End Task.
  9. Run the Microsoft Office Setup program. If the Setup program runs in Maintenance mode, click Reinstall. Otherwise, choose the type of installation you want to perform.
  10. After setup is complete, repeat steps 1-5, but this time move your shortcuts back to the Startup folder from the Programs folder.

MORE INFORMATION

Some programs install different versions of the Mfc40.dll and the Msvcrt40.dll files than the Microsoft Office Setup program installs. If one of the files is the wrong version, the Microsoft Office Setup program may fail to complete successfully.

Both Microsoft Office 7.0 and Microsoft Office 97 install the following versions of the Mfc40.dll and Msvcrt40.dll files: 
   Mfc40.dll       Size: 924,432 bytes   Version: 4.1.6139
   Msvcrt40.dll    Size: 326,656 bytes   Version: 4.10.6038

REFERENCES

For more information about incorrect versions of Mfc40.dll and Msvcrt40.dll, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

163556 "Unable to Register Mfc40.dll" Error During MS Office Install

153733 PRB: Wrong Mfc40.dll and Msvcrt40.dll from ActiveX CD-ROM Disc

159685 ACC95: "Unable to Register Mfc40.dll" Error Installing MS Access

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB178652
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