Activation of COM DLL Registered with Long Path Does Not Succeed (243800)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0 SP4
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0 SP5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP4
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP5
This article was previously published under Q243800

SYMPTOMS

If a Component Object Model (COM) dynamic-link library (DLL) is registered with a path longer than 127 characters, activation of the DLL does not succeed and the following error message is generated:
0x80040154 "Class not registered"
The same DLL (with a path longer than 127 characters) can be loaded using CoLoadLibrary/LoadLibrary, but COM cannot activate it.

CAUSE

Activation of a COM DLL uses a small buffer to read the 32-bit DLL information from the registry. The registration information is not retrieved if the COM DLL is registered with a path longer than 127 characters.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date      Time                 Size    File name     Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   10/13/99  02:28 PM             700,688 Ole32.dll     Intel
   10/13/99  02:27 PM           1,239,312 Ole32.dll     Alpha

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/23/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix KB243800
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.