How to restore missing COMCTL32.dll?

Question

My folks' PC has a strange problem. There is a file C:\Windows\System32\COMCTL32.dll on their machine, but it is obviously the wrong file, because I cannot start many applications, including useful utilities such as depends.exe and even handle.exe (because they want to open a prompt dialog on the very first run).

Windows Update and Windows Defender Update both fail as well for the same reason. There are many sites dedicated to this issue, but none simply give a link to the download.

Any ideas how I can restore the correct COMCTL32.dll file?

Note: Windows version is 6.1.7601, 32 bits.

Solution

Here is the dir COMCTL32.dll /s output of a known-good 64-bit Windows 7 install, currently patched to SP1. The first thing I would try would be simply to copy it from another location. I would copy another one that 633,856 bytes, version 5.82.7601.17514.

For 32-bit it is 530,432, version 5.82.7601.17514

If that does not work, I would search here on Superuser for how to extract a file off the installation DVD, or use sfc /scannow from an elevated command prompt.

Comments

[ChrisF]

Have you tried a Windows Repair?

[mark]

Do you mean from the installation DVD? No, I did not try it. I will keep it as an option.

[ChrisF]

Yes - though at XP it only worked if you've got the same level of Service Pack installed. Don't know if it's the same for 7.