Fix Missing, Invalid or Incorrectly Registered Windows System files

Many Windows System files (typically ending in .ocx or .dll) are shared by multiple programs. Installing or un-installing programs (including trial versions of programs such as Microsoft Office) into Windows, or running free registry cleaners can remove or corrupt shared files, or break interdependent links between files. Also, the User Account Control in Windows Vista and later can block CTI Navigator's access to Windows system files.

First, run a virus/malware scan of your entire computer system to ensure that the problematic file is not infected and is not a non-Microsoft file masquerading as a Windows System file. For links to free virus diagnostic scans, see "Cleanup and Prevent Virus or Spyware" in the Related Articles at the bottom of this web page.

To confirm whether or not a specified Windows system file is missing, and then to register or repair it:

  1. Right-click on Start > select Explore or "Open Windows Explorer"
  2. Browse to
    • C:\Windows\System32 in a 32-bit version Windows;  - or -
    • C:\Windows\SysWOW64 for 32-bit DLL and OCX files in a 64-bit version of Windows (see System Note below) 
  3. Scroll through the appropriate Windows System32 or SysWOW64 folder to find the suspect file (see Hidden Files Note below)
  4. If the file exists in the appropriate folder: 
  5. If the file is missing or the error persists after registering it, run the System File Checker (scf) tool :
    • right-click on the Start icon and select Command Prompt (Admin)
    • type scf  /scannow 
    • then press Enter.
  6. If system file was corrupted and could not be repaired by the System File Checker tool, either
    • find where the corrupted file is located, and then manually replace the corrupted file with a known good copy of the file (click here for Microsoft's instructions).
      For example,
      • copy of the system file from another computer that is running the same version of Windows; -or-
      • use the Windows Restore function; -or-
      • download the file from a known trusted source;  - OR -  
    • in Windows 10 or 8.1, run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line utility with the RestoreHealth option (see "How to use DISM command-line utility to repair a Windows 10" in related articles below) to repair the Windows Recovery image and environment:
      • right-click on the Start icon and select Command Prompt (Admin)
      • type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth 
      • then press Enter.

Hidden Files Note: To view hidden system files in Windows Explorer, select Tools > Folder Options > View tab > check "Show Hidden Files and Folders" > un-check "Hide extensions for known file types".

System Note: To determine whether your Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit, open the Windows Control Panel, select System, and look for "System Type".

Disclaimer. Information in any form is provided by Creative Technology of Sarasota, Inc. (CTI)  only as a convenience to licensed users of CTI products. CTI cannot warrant that the version of any file provided for download will be compatible with other programs on your computer or with your version of Windows. See related article, "Windows File Protection."

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Register a Windows File 

System files need to be registered for use by Windows. Instructions to register a file are described in detail in the related article "Register dll or ocx file" below. These steps are summarized as follows*:   

  1. If Windows is set to automatically associate the file type with the Windows registry, simply double-click on the file. Otherwise, run the Microsoft Register Server as follows.
     
    • in Windows 10 or 8.1: right-click on the Start icon and select Command Prompt (Admin)
    • in Windows 7 or Vista: select Start > all Programs > Accessories > right-click on Command Prompt > click Run as Administrator
    • in Windows XP: select Start > Run
  2. Type Regsvr32 {Filename.ocx}  [see notes 1 and 2 below]
  3. Click the OK button. 

Note 1: There is one space between regsvr32 and the filename. Do not type the {} braces.

Note 2: To register or unregister a file not in the Windows system folder, you must enter the full path to the file enclosed by quotation marks after the Regsvr32 or Regsvr32 /u command. For example, to register the Announcement file in CTI Navigator that is installed in the normal default location on C drive, run Regsvr32 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Cti Navigator\CtiAnnouncement.dll". Ensure that you type the correct drive letter and the correct \Program Files (x86)\  for 32-bit Windows, or \Program Files\ for 64-bit Windows, in the path. 

* Windows XP and Vista users may see the Registration Shortcut note below for an alternative method.

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Unregister and re-register a Windows file 

If the same error persists after replacing and/or registering a file, it may need to be un-registered and then re-registered (especially in Windows Vista or Windows 7). To un-register a file and then re-register it:

  1. Open the Windows Command Prompt to run commands with "Administrator" privileges:
    • in Windows 10 or 8.1: right-click on the Start icon and select Command Prompt (Admin)
    • in Windows 7 or Vista: select Start > all Programs > Accessories > right-click on Command Prompt > click Run as Administrator
    • in Windows XP: select Start > Run
     
  2. Type Regsvr32 /u {Filename.ocx}  [see notes 1 and 2 above]
  3. Click the OK button.
  4. Then re-register the file by running Regsvr32 {Filename.ocx} (as described above). 

 Warning:  See disclaimer above. Also, before making any registry changes, Microsoft highly recommends that you make a backup of your registry (see "How to backup and restore the registry..." in related articles below).

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Older Installations in Vista or Windows 7

To fix an error message such as "Component {Filename.ocx} or one of its dependencies not correctly registered; a file is missing or invalid" when logging into an older installation of CTI Navigator in Windows Vista or Windows 7: 

  1. Right-click on the CTI Navigator icon on your Windows desktop
  2. Select Properties > click the Compatibility tab (see compatibility note below if this tab is missing)
  3. Under Privilege Level, check "Run this program as an Administrator"
  4. Click OK
  5. Right-click on the CTI Navigator icon again
  6. Click "Run as Administrator" in the menu
  7. Click Allow.

Compatibility Note. There usually is no Compatibility tab for new installations of CTI Navigator. The program automatically installs  with administrative privileges. However, sometimes you may need to set the CTI Navigator.exe program file to "Run as an Administrator". To do so, right-click on the Windows Start icon > select Explore, File Explorer, or "Open Windows Explorer" > browse to C:\Program Files [or Program Files (x86) in a 64-bit version of Windows]\CTI Navigator\ > right-click on CTI Navigator.exe > check "Run as Administrator" > close the Windows Explorer. 

If setting the program to run as administrator does not fix the problem, reinstall CTI Navigator Desktop from the Internet (see "Download CTI Navigator..."  in the related articles below) or from fresh installation disks. 

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Related Articles and Internet Links:

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rev. 08.09.2016