missing comctl32.dll and cant run anything

My Windows 7 64 bit is running crazy starting today 3/11. In fact, I thought it might be due to something in update, so I restored to before the update, but problem continues. (I have since gone ahead and installed the important updates). I'm using microsoft security essentials, although I was using Panda for a month or so until the last few days...

I can't even run anti-malwarebytes, because it pops up "comctl32.dll not found" reinstall program. Of course I can't install anything because of missing dll file. I downloaded a couple of antimalware tools, like the emisoft kit, but can't run them due to missing .dll.

I don't even know where to look for an answer.

I ran system file scanner, and it came up with errors it couldn't repair, but I can't interpret the log.

Okay, one of the many ways this affects things is I can't "browse" on your attachment uploader to get to the log to upload it!!!!!!

Thanks for any help - hopefully the rest of the computer keeps working until I figure this out.

 

Hi, I'm guessing that you are a Panda Cloud user? <- oops, I see that you were ...

If so, sit tight and keep following their topic on this so that you can get the problem fixed: http://support.pandasecurity.com/fo...3&t=3708&sid=c82b5179850baba43d2db1cf273617d8

It looks like there's still some Panda remnants loading.

 

Well, I totally blew this one. But, thanks for the heads up and I'll repostst this melodrama on their site.

I had already discontinued using Panda a few days ago because it identified a valid file as bad. I re-started Microsoft Essentials, which windows update had been updating, even though it wasn't active.
Then today, when this problem showed up, I uninstalled Panda, thinking about that rule about not having 2 anti-viruses....
In any case, I had already restarted windows, which Panda site is saying not to do..

 

Re: missing comctl32.dll PANDA connections

I went to the Panda link, but don't think it will help. I am no longer running Panda, uninstalled it and can't install anything right now...

I'm thinking of using the Windows 7 disk to repair windows, but would like advice from you experts - I think i've already done too much damage on my own...

THANKS

 

Karenpenn...

You might try running sfc /scannow again (I think what you mean by system file scanner?). Place the disk in the tray just in case sfc needs the disk for repairs. Also, if it finds anything, good idea to run it again. Sometimes repairs must be performed sequentially so that more than one sfc is required. Same is true with chkdsk...

To run sfc /scannow. Place installation disk in tray->Start->Accessories->right click on Command Prompt and select "Run as Administrator"->at the prompt type sfc /scannow (space after sfc) and hit enter...

 

I'd sit tight and keep watching that Panda topic, they should be coming out with a tool that will fix this - many users are stuck in a similar situation, some having tried many things and failed.

You can try creating a help topic/report with Panda but the topic I pointed you to isn't the best place to ask - to my knowledge, 2 pages of responses from affected users have already been removed from it.

Just because you uninstall a security software doesn't mean it's always completely removed, far from it. Any remnants can cause big issues, sometimes years after the uninstall. Most makers have their own specialised tools to fully remove their security software.

comctl32.dll is a component in most, if not all, Windows software that has a UI. W7, at least, has a number of different versions of it installed, some software may be designed to use alt. versions and be able to run, others will fail early on - like the file uploader and Malwarebytes, for example.

 

thanks for the advice - I will be watching Panda site.

I did run the sfc/scannow again, and it cleared up most of what it detected. that hasn't addressed the main problems. I can tell that it is more than the missing .dll, Firefox acts weird, for example. I can run youtubes, etc.

FYI the errors remaining that sfc finds seem to be sample jpg and other media files - not anything I need...

 

It seems to be hitting different files on different systems for some reason, checkout the report at El Reg and the comments page for it. I'm sure there will be others in the main Panda forum. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/03/11/panda_antivirus_update_self_pwn/

 

It looks like Panda has an early version of a 'fix' available, unfortunately, it appears that the recovery tool supplied can also fail with a comctl32.dll error

http://support.pandasecurity.com/fo...3&t=3720&sid=658c4eaafbac09abcbd9e9e24a17fd95

 

Maybe one of these will help?
http://www.pandasecurity.com/usa/enterprise/support/card?id=100045
http://www.pandasecurity.com/usa/enterprise/support/card?id=100046

 

Thanks, plodr

It should be the latter, 46, that will get around the comctl32.dll error as it uses the command line not a UI.

 

Panda site not much help for me, since Panda wasn't really running when this hit my system. I'm not sure why it affected me, since I had quite running it a couple of days earlier ( but not uninstalled!). I had also done a restore and uninstalled Panda, both of which are no goes for their repair schemes.

I did a repair/reinstall of windows 7 home premium today, so haven't been able to check all out. (of course, still updating...) But immediately, the missing comctl32.dll has cleared up and programs are working...

Any suggestions about further testing I should do? I'm thinking of running Malwarebytes Anti Malware scanner...

 

You've done fine, Karen :major

I'd not run Malwarebytes yet, concentrate on getting Windows updated again after the Repair install and then look for the Panda removal tool/method to ensure that it's all been cleanly removed.

If you do run into any glitches, give the topic a bump with the details and we'll find some diags for you to run/ask for relevant logs, etc. before suggesting any further action.