Works 95/98: Taskwizard Error Message: Cannot Load Custom Control Dll (140687)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 4.5
  • Microsoft Works 4.5a
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0 4.0a

This article was previously published under Q140687

SYMPTOMS

When you try to run the Works Introduction or a TaskWizard, you may receive one of the following error messages due to incorrect or missing dynamic link libraries (.dll files):
Can't load Custom Control DLL: 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PREVIEW.VBX'
If you click OK, you receive the following error message:
WIZARD Unexpected error; quitting

-or-

The TaskWizard cannot continue.

RESOLUTION

Be sure the directory path where Works is installed does not contain extended characters. Remove and reinstall the program to its default location. Use the steps below to check for incorrect or missing dynamic link libraries (.dll files). If that doesn't solve the problem, go on to the Check Swap File section.

Checking for Incorrect or Missing .dll Files

Make sure all of the following files are installed in the \Windows\System directory. For information about finding and comparing files in Windows, see your Windows printed documentation or online help.
   Compobj.dll          30,976      07-11-1995     9:50:00a
   Ole2.dll             39,744      07-11-1995     9:50:00a
   Ole2disp.dll        169,440      07-11-1995     9:50:00a
   Ole2nls.dll         153,040      07-11-1995     9:50:00a
   Olethk32.dll         79,424      07-11-1995     9:50:00a
				
If any of these files are missing or corrupted, you will receive this error. If one or more of these files is missing or the wrong size, you can either reinstall Windows 95 or extract them manually from the Windows 95 disks or compact disc.

Reinstalling Windows 95

To replace the missing files by reinstalling Windows 95, run the Setup again from either the Windows 95 disks or compact disc using the following steps:

  1. Insert the Windows 95 disc into the CD-ROM drive or, if you installed Windows 95 from a floppy disk, insert disk 1 in the disk drive.
  2. On the Start menu, click Run and type <drive letter>:\setup. For example, if you are installing from a CD, and your CD-ROM drive is drive D, you would type the following:

    d:\setup

Extracting Files Manually

To replace the missing files by manually extracting them from the Windows 95 disks or compact disc, do the following:

If you installed Windows 95 from compact disc:

  1. Insert the Windows 95 disc into the CD-ROM drive.
  2. On the Start menu, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.
  3. Type the following and press ENTER.

    cd system

  4. Type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt:

    extract <drive>:\win95\win95_09.cab <file name>

    where <drive> is the CD-ROM drive letter and <file name> is the name of the .dll file you are extracting.

    For example, if your CD-ROM drive is drive D, and you need to extract the file "Olethk32.dll", type the following and press ENTER:

    extract D:\win95\win95_09.cab olethk32.dll

  5. When you finish extracting all the necessary files, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press ENTER:

    exit

  6. Restart Works and run the TaskWizard.
If you installed Windows 95 from floppy disk:

  1. Insert the disk number as indicated below:
       To extract:          Insert       Insert
                            DMF Disk#    non-DMF Disk#
       ==========           =========    =============
       Compobj.dll             09            14
       Ole2.dll                09            14
       Ole2disp.dll            09            14
       Ole2nls.dll             09            14
       Olethk32.dll            10            15
    					
  2. On the Start menu, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.
  3. Type the following and press ENTER.

    cd system

  4. Type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt:

    extract <drive>:\win95_<disk#>.cab <file name>

    where <drive> is the floppy drive letter, <disk#> is the disk you have inserted and <file name> is the name of the .dll file you are extracting.

    For example, if your floppy drive is drive A, and you insert disk 15, and you need to extract the file Olethk32.dll, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press ENTER:

    extract A:\win95_15.cab olethk32.dll

  5. When you finish extracting all the necessary files, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press ENTER:

    exit

  6. Restart Works and run the TaskWizard.
NOTE: For more information about extracting files, please see the following article here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

Checking the Swap File

If the error still occurs after you have completed the "Checking for Incorrect or Missing .dll Files" section, make sure that you have enough hard disk space for the Windows 95 swap file.

  1. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the System icon.
  3. On the Performance tab, click Virtual Memory.
  4. Make sure that the Let Windows Manage My Virtual Memory Settings (Recommended) check box is selected.

    If the amount of disk space available (shown on the line next to Hard Disk) is below 10 MB, and you have another hard drive on the system with more available disk space, click Let Me Specify My Own Memory Settings, and then change to the other drive. If you do not have another drive available with more available space, you must make more space available on your existing drive.

MORE INFORMATION

The .dll files listed in this article are installed by Windows 95. If they are missing or corrupted, reinstalling Works does not help, because the files are not installed by Works.

A common cause of missing .dll files is a third-party program that is designed to remove or uninstall Windows applications and their associated files. Sometimes these programs do not correctly identify which .dll files are no longer in use.

The following Works TaskWizards will not function if any of the .dll files listed above are missing:
   Address Book     Start From Scratch     Employee Profile
   Letter           Form Letter            Suppliers & Vendors
   Letterhead       Proposal Letter        Customers or Clients
   Resume (CV)      Statements             Sales Contacts
				

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/16/2004
Keywords:kb3rdparty kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB140687