Win98se: Oleaut32.dll Can't Start?

Hi! I have a Win98SE mini-tower at my mother's house, and the computer keeps complaining that this file can't start. It does this eight times after I log in and once every time I use certain programs. I replaced the file with one I found on the internet. It still didn't work. What could be causing the problem? How do I fix it?

 

Have a read over here.
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-fix-oleaut32-dll-not-found-or-missing-errors-2623880

 

Uhh...the page gives me a too many redirects error.

 

All I can suggest is try a different browser.
I have no problem with Internet Explorer 9, which is no longer supported, or Mozilla Firefox 45.

 

Thank you! I suspect a registry problem. I'm hunting for a registry claner now.

 

Found one. The same error trying to run it.

 

In the archive is a PDF document of the help in the link.
You can also post the problem on the author's Facebook page.
https://web.facebook.com/TimFisherTech/posts/1225491687504629?_rdr
Remember to mention it's Windows 98.

 

I replaced my copy with a working copy, and now it works! Now to fix the registry, as I downloaded some registry cleaners in the process.

 

The cleaning helped, but there ae five issues unresolved: at start-up, the computer reports that five files were not found. I would remove the entries myself, but I don't know enough about the portion of the registry to know about any side-effects that would occur.

 

A working copy of Windows 98?

 

I'm sorry. A working copy of OLEAUT32.DLL.

 

Try this - it supports Windows 9x, and you can undo any changes.
Eusing Free Registry Cleaner.
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm

Take when using this program or any other registry cleaner.

 

I tried it. It found about 313 errors, including the type I need removed. I cleaned it, and the problem remains.

 

Not showing you away but Windows 98 is almost 20 years old.

Try one of these forums - the recent posts are from 2017.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum-48.html
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/f/9/windows-9598me/

 

I thank you for your help, but I don't currently want to subscribe to another forum. I'll check again on freewarefiles.com, download.com and google.com.

 

I understand not wanting to subscribe to another forum however, where else are you going to get help with Windows 98?

Check for what?

 

You can use this StartUp Control Panel to un-check those programs from starting. They won't be deleted unless you right click and select delete. Just uncheck the 5 files you know can't be found.

This is an old download, but I just ran it in 8.1, so it does still work. Unzip it to anywhere and then run it.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/startup_control_panel_standalone_version.html

 

Uhh...the problems occur earlier during the boot process and are device drivers. I had to remove four of them the hard way, and one is unavailable at its time in the boot process. I was able to trace the first four to the registry, but since I don't know too much about their part of the system registry, I didn't remove their entries.