Resolving 'vb6 Cannot Load MSComctl OCx' Errors: A Step-by-Step Guide

The infamous 'Cannot Load MSComCtl.ocx' error in Visual Basic 6 (VB6) can be frustrating, especially when you've exhausted all the usual troubleshooting steps. This article will walk you through a detailed procedure to resolve this issue and get your VB6 project back up and running smoothly.

Error Symptoms

The symptoms of this problem typically manifest as follows:

1. When opening or re-opening a .VB6 (Visual Basic 6) project, you encounter an error message stating 'Cannot Load MSComCtl.ocx.'

2. The exact text within the error window may vary slightly but usually mentions something along these lines: ''MSComctl.ocx' is missing from your system's 'Windows\WinNT\System32' or 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\MSScripting\Runtime' directories.'

Pre-Conditions

Before diving into the resolution process, ensure you meet the following preconditions:

1. You are running a supported version of Windows and Visual Basic 6.

2. The VB6 IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is properly installed on your system.

Resolution Steps

To resolve this issue, follow these steps in sequence:

### Step 1: Unregister MSComctl.ocx

Occasionally, an improperly registered or corrupted OCX file can cause such problems. To unregister the MSComCtl.ocx control and potentially fix the issue, do the following:

1. Open a command prompt as administrator (right-click on Start > Run > type 'cmd' then press Shift+Ctrl+Enter).

2. Type `regsvr32 -u mscomctl.ocx` and press Enter.

3. Wait for the operation to complete; you may see some progress indicators or messages in the Command Prompt.

### Step 2: Delete Temporary Files

VB6 sometimes caches temporary files that can interfere with its functioning. It's always a good idea to clear these out:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+F9 while within VB6.

2. In the resulting 'Visual Basic Editor - Recent Projects' dialog box, select all projects and then click on the 'Delete' button.

### Step 3: Re-Register MSComctl.ocx

After unregistering (if necessary), we need to re-register the OCX file:

1. Open a command prompt as administrator again.

2. Type `regsvr32 mscomctl.ocx` and press Enter.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

If none of these steps resolve your issue, consider trying the following additional troubleshooting measures:

- Reinstalling VB6: Sometimes, completely removing all traces of Visual Basic 6 from your system and then re-installing it can help. To do this:

- Open Control Panel > Programs & Features (or Add/Remove in older versions).

- Find 'Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0' or any related components.

- Right-click on them one at a time, select 'Uninstall' for each item listed under the main entry.

- System-wide OCX Registration: If re-registering MSComctl.ocx within VB itself doesn't work, try system-wide registration:

1. Open Windows Explorer (File > Explore in older versions).

2. Navigate to `C:\Windows\WinNT\System32` or simply type this path directly into the address bar and press Enter.

3. Look for a file called 'mscomctl.ocx.' Right-click on it, then select 'Properties.'

4. In the Properties dialog box, under the 'General' tab, check if 'Allow this component to be used by all users' is checked.

- Resetting VB6 IDE Settings: If nothing else seems to work:

- Close and re-open Visual Basic 6.

- While holding down Shift+Ctrl while launching VB6 will bring up a dialog asking whether you want to reset your settings. Click 'Yes.'

If after trying all of the above steps, you are still experiencing issues with loading MSComctl.ocx or encounter any other related errors during development in Visual Basic 6 (VB6), it may be worth considering seeking further assistance from online forums dedicated to VB6 programming or contacting Microsoft support for more advanced troubleshooting and resolution guidance.

Vb6 cannot load mscomctl ocx