"comctl32.dll is missing from your computer", even though it's not

[IFTN]

"comctl32.dll is missing from your computer", even though it's not

Hi, when I try to install any program I get the message:

"The program can't start because COMCTL32.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the the program to fix this problem."

The confusing thing is, when I go in to "C:/Windows/System32", the file COMCTL32.dll is right there still!

The reason this has happened is almost certainly because I recently cloned my hard drive over to a new SSD and kept my old drive just for storage. I've been booting off the new drive for a few days already, but today I deleted Windows off the old HDD (now named D:/), so I'm guessing that's why I'm getting this problem.

If I try to run any of the programs installed on D:/ I get the same message, but programs on C:/ work fine.


I've tried going into elevated Command Prompt and typing "regsvr32 comctl32.dll", but this just returns the message "The module "comctl32.dll" was loaded but the entry-point DllRegisterServer was not found."

I've also tried running a system file check and this says errors were found but that it was unable to fix them.

Any other ideas on how to solve this?


Thanks.

 

[ShanghaiSeven]

I have this exact same problem on windows 7 32. Windows went through a number of updates yesterday and the day before. No viruses detected when removing the drive and placing in another computer. The file exists in System32 folder. Problem occurred this morning, when attempting to turn on the computer... Using system restore succeeds in restoring to an earlier restore point, but does not resolve the problem.

 

[IFTN]

I've been trying all day to solve this but to no avail. I think I'm just gonna format the drive and reinstall Windows.

 

[shermarama]

Possible Panda AV link for comctl32.dll problem

There seem to be a lot of people having the same problem right now (including me) who are all using Panda Antivirus - if you're using it too, it's worth looking at this thread:
Panda Security Forum - View topic - Can't run Panda Recovery Tool, missing Comctl32.dll

It seems the antivirus program quarantined something it shouldn't have done, and the Windows update that happened at the same time may have complicated things. There are a couple of possible solutions mentioned there, and Panda are working on it.

 

[IFTN]

Haha yeah I had Panda, that was probably the cause. I've already reinstalled Windows now though and am back up and running with everything setup like it was before so it's no biggie. Thanks for your response!

 

[ShanghaiSeven]

'twas using Panda Antivirus too... Oh, man. I'm upset. I realized this a few days ago when I saw this on Engadget. Was sure it was a virus then 80% certain it was Panda, now I'm 100% sure.

Too late. So obscure when it happened that I already rebuilt the os on the computer. Zheesh. Panda should compensate me for this. I even posted on their Facebook account, and no one even apologized.

Good Riddance Panda.