This may be a tough one. Does anyone know how to get a comctl32.dll file off of a flash drive?

Question

My laptop crashed (battery died during system restore to a previous date) and all I get is the "blue screen of death" now. The missing or corrupt file is the comctl32.dll. I have a good copy of it on a flash drive but how do I transfer/copy it into the laptop? FYI - I can't get online or to any files period. I can get to DOS but that's it. Also, it's a Dell Inspiron. Thanks for your help!!

Answer 1

Ok, the missing/ corrupt comctl32.dll is part of the windows GUI, thats why you can get to DOS, but not the desktop enviorment. There are several possible ways to accomplish this, but none of them are pretty. Its possible to mount the flash drive in DOS, but you will need some extra drivers ( check with your manufacturer/ MS) and support is hit and miss dependant on hardware. If you can locate and install drivers that will allow you to mount the flash drive from DOS, I would go that route first.

Otherwise, the *easiest* (heh) way is to download and burn a live Linux CD (Kanotix) http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=kanotix
Please note that write support to NTFS filesystems is experimental at best. (If your drive is formatted as Fat32, please post back and Ill give you a different set of instructions)

Ok, so far, so good, right?
Mount the Live CD.
Now copy the .dll to your desktop from the flashdrive. Here comes the tricky part. If you/ or someone you know has any Linux experience this will be a lot easier.
All you have to do is give Grub-prompt the cheatcode "unionfs" when booting or run the script "# fix-unionfs.sh" from a konsole.

Writing o­n NTFS-Partitions is advisable to experienced users o­nly that are ready to take a risk, but right now you cant access anything anyway, right? If you can you should copy all the files you can possibly save NOW.
Total loss of data can not be ruled out!!
All mentioned commands must be issued as root

If you can `see' an NTFS-Partition under Linux (here hda1) then it should be mounted

# mount /dev/hda1

Then you have to load the necessary drivers with the script­:

# captive-install-acquire

(If the necessary file is not o­n your harddisk and you have connection to the internet it tries to download the files. (be aware:ca. 30MB download)
unmount the NTFS-Partition:

# umount /mnt/hda1

and mount the integrated captive-driver:

# mount -t captive-ntfs /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1

Now you can read and write the NTFS-Partition as root!
You can achieve the same without running the "captive-install-acquire" script by copiying the 4 needed files (cdfs.sys, fastfat.sys,ntfs.sys,ntoskrnl.exe) to"/var/lib/captive".

All thats left is to copy (cp) the .dll to one or all of the following locations (depending on whether or not its missing in all locations)
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32
or/&
C:\WINDOWS\SxS
or/&
C:\WINDOWS\I386\ASMS\6000\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS

If this fails, its time to reinstall windows. Its also entirely possible more than this .dll is askew, your entire fs maybe unrecoverable. Next time I would strongly advise plugging the laptop in to an external power supply before modifying filesystems. : )
If you need additional instructions, shoot me an email & Ill see what I can do.
Good Luck.

Answer 2

Boot system and hit F8

This should boot you into a screen that allows you to select versions of Safe Mode.

Don't recall which one to pick that includes the USB drivers - there used to be an option to go through them all one by one.

I'd try a straight safe mode boot first and then try the USB drive.

If that doesn't work - try the other options.

If that fails see if you can find your Dell install disks and do a Dell restore of the system. Then do a new restore - I know that sucks, but it may be the only way.

Hopefully this helps.

-dh

Answer 3

i do not realize why it make you so troublesome to delete your files. once you connect your usb stress, the computer will vehicle 'experience' the hot correct hardware and this is going to open a small window for you. only click 'open folder', this is going to 'hit upon' your flash stress incorporates. you could now go with the files and press 'delete' button on the keyboard. that straightforward. in case you nonetheless can not delete files nor folder interior the flash stress, there is a few thing incorrect with it. examine with the corporation of the stress.

Answer 4

You will probably need to install it elsewhere as a slave and try to load the file. I have done it on a pc, but never on a laptop. Should work.