You receive an error message for both the Shsql.dll file and the Eeswt.dll file in Visual C++ (256324)

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

When you create, open, or execute a project in Visual C++ version 6.0, the following error message is displayed:

SHSQL.DLL

This required file cannot be loaded. Please re-install Microsoft Visual C++.

EESWT.DLL

This required file cannot be loaded. Please re-install Microsoft Visual C++.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the Visual C++ Enterprise Edition setup fails to remove some registry keys. The following are two possible reasons that the Visual C++ Enterprise Edition setup fails to remove registry keys:

Failure with the uninstallation process.
Visual C++ files and directories have been deleted by the end user.

RESOLUTION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

248697 How to manually uninstall Visual Studio with MSDN Library

NOTE If you plan to install the Visual C++ Professional Edition on the same computer that is running the Visual C++ Enterprise Edition, then rename or delete the following registry key before you install Visual C++ to avoid the error messages.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\shsql.dll

MORE INFORMATION

Both the Shsql.dll file and the Eeswt.dll file are only shipped with the Visual C++ Enterprise Edition. If the uninstallation process of the Visual C++ Enterprise Edition is not complete, then Enterprise-specific registry keys remain. The registry keys that remain cause errors with the installation of other editions of Visual C++.

NOTE: Always uninstall Visual C++ from the Add/Remove Programs tool in the Control Panel. You cannot uninstall Visual C++ if you only delete Visual C++ files and directories.