Error messages when you view a PowerPoint presentation: "Hlink.dll Can't Be Loaded" or "PowerPoint Failed to Load Hlink.dll" (813726)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
This article is a consolidation of the following previously available articles: 291892 and 237470

SYMPTOMS

When you view a Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 or Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 presentation, you may receive one or both of the following error messages:
Microsoft PowerPoint "hlink.dll" can't be loaded.
Microsoft PowerPoint failed to load "hlink.dll".

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the Hlink.dll file is missing, is damaged, or is the wrong version.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, delete the Hlink.dll file on your hard disk drive if it exists, and then replace it. The Hlink.dll file is stored on the Microsoft Windows CD, and you can install it with Microsoft Internet Explorer. To replace the Hlink.dll file, use either of the following methods.

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Method 1: Reinstall Internet Explorer


Note Because there are many different versions of Internet Explorer designed for many different operating systems,use one of the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles ton help you determine the best approach for reinstalling your version of Internet Explorer:

258893 Information about how to reinstall Internet Explorer

256340 Information about Internet Explorer Setup on a Windows 2000-based or Windows XP-based computer

Method 2: Extract the Hlink.dll File

  1. Save any open files, and then quit all programs that are running.
  2. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
  3. In the Named box, type hlink.dll.
  4. In the Look in box, make sure that drive C is selected, and then click Find Now.
  5. If you find the Hlink.dll file, right-click the file, and then click Rename.
  6. Rename the file from Hlink.dll to Hlink.old.
  7. Insert the Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP CD in the CD Drive Or DVD Drive.
  8. Click Start, and then click Run.
  9. To extract the Hlink.dll file file, in the Run dialog box, type the following command line where drive is the drive letter of the CD drive or DVD drive, and windows is the folder that contains the Windows operating system:

    expand drive:\i386 hlink.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hlink.dll

    Click OK.
  10. Click Start again, and then click Run.
  11. To register the Hlink.dll file manually on the 32-bit operating system, in the Run dialog box, type the following command line where windows is the folder that contains the Windows operating system:

    c:\windows\system32\regsvr32 /s c:\windows\system32\hlink.dll

    Click OK.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/20/2006
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb kberrmsg KB813726 kbAudEndUser
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