PUB97: "Call to a Invalid DLL File" Error After Selecting Wizard (184646)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Publisher 97

This article was previously published under Q184646

SYMPTOMS

When you select any of the Wizards from the Page Wizard tab, in Microsoft Publisher 97, you may receive the following error:
Your program is making an invalid DLL call.

CAUSE

This error occurs if the Compobj.dll file (or another file that provides object linking and embedding functionality), was overwritten by a different version of the DLL file than was installed by Publisher 97. This problem usually occurs after you install a program on your computer. If you have the wrong version of the Compobj.dll (or another DLL file) on your computer, Publisher 97 generates an error when you attempt to run a wizard that contains embedded objects.

WORKAROUND

Use one of the following methods to restore the Compobj.dll file.

Method 1: Copy Compobj.dll from the \Sysbckup Folder (Windows 95 Only)

  1. Close all programs.
  2. On the Windows Start menu, click Run.
  3. In the Open box, type the following

    c:\<windir>\sysbckup

    where <windir> is the folder where you installed Windows 95. Click OK.
  4. Select the Compobj.dll file.
  5. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  6. On the Windows Start menu, click Run.
  7. In the Open box, type the following

    c:\<windir>\system

    where <windir> is the folder where you installed Windows 95. Click OK.
  8. On the Edit menu, click Paste.
  9. If you are asked if you want to replace the file, click Yes.
The error will no longer appear when you run one of the wizards from the Page Wizard tab.

Method 2: Extract Compobj.dll From the Windows 95 Disks

NOTE: The following method assumes you have Windows 95 on compact disc and that the Compobj.dll file is stored in Win95_09.cab file. Some versions of Windows 95 are organized slightly differently and Compobj.dll may not be stored in the Win95_09.cab file.
  1. Insert your Windows 95 compact disc in your CD-ROM drive.
  2. On the Windows Start menu, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.
  3. Open to the Win95 folder on the compact disc.
  4. At the command prompt, type the following command:

    extract.exe win95_09.cab compobj.dll /l %windir%\System

    Press ENTER. If you are asked if you want to overwrite the Compobj.dll file, choose Yes.
For additional information about using the Extract command, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

132913 How to Use EXTRACT.EXE to Copy Files from DMF Disks


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/18/2003
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB184646