GW 2.0 Err Msg: COMCAT.dll Was Unable to Register (179823)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Greetings Workshop 2.0
This article was previously published under Q179823

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to install Greetings Workshop, you may receive the following error message:

COMCAT.dll was unable to register.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if any of the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) library files are missing, damaged, or the wrong version.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, download and install the Windows Libraries Update. To do this:
  1. Visit the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp?

  2. In the Search By area, click Keywords.
  3. In the Keywords box, type libraries update.
  4. In the Operating System box, click the appropriate operating system, and then click Find It.
  5. Click the link that is returned, and then follow the instructions on the screen to install the Microsoft Libraries Update.
The Microsoft Libraries Update resolves an issue that can cause some third-party software to behave unexpectedly after the installation of Microsoft Works Suite 99, Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99 (US only), Microsoft Encarta Virtual Globe 99, Microsoft Graphics Studio Greetings 99, or other third-party software. Impacted programs include America Online (AOL) version 4.0 and HyperTerminal.

For additional information about the Microsoft Libraries Update, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

197298 INFO: Microsoft Libraries Update: What, Where, Why

If the issue continues to occur:

  1. Click Start, and then click Shut Down.
  2. Click Restart In MS-DOS Mode, and then click Yes.
  3. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

    ren comcat.dll comcat.old
    ren mfc40.dll mfc40.old
    ren olepro32.dll olepro32.old
    exit

  4. If you receive an "error starting program" or "can't find required .dll" error message when Microsoft Windows starts, click OK.
  5. Reinstall Greetings Workshop.

MORE INFORMATION

The following table lists the files installed by the Microsoft Library Files Update:

Filename Version Description
Msvcrt.dll 6.00.8337 Visual C++ run-time, no dependencies.
Oleaut32.dll 2.30.4265 Part of the OLE-AUT fileset that compliments Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) and Visual Basic run-time.
Olepro32.dll 5.00.4265 Part of OLE-AUT fileset that compliments MFC and Visual Basic run-time.
Asycfilt.dll 2.30.4265 Part of OLE-AUT fileset that compliments MFC and Visual Basic run-time.
Stdole2.tlb 2.30.4265 Part of OLE-AUT fileset that compliments MFC and Visual Basic run-time.
Mfc42.dll 6.00.8267 Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC), dependent on Msvcrt.dll, ComCtl32.dll, and OLE-AUT files.
Mfc42u.dll 6.00.8267 MFC Unicode only for the Windows NT Platform.
Regsvr32.exe For registration purposes only. For Mfc42.dll and Oleaut32.dll.
RegTlib.exe For .tlb registration for stdole2.tlb.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/28/2002
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbprb kbsetup kburl KB179823
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.