Register or Unregister ActiveX DLL or OCX Files

Sometimes "application extension" files (.DLL or .OCX) must be manually registered to properly support functions in a program such as CTI Navigator. A variety of ActiveX, Automation, or "Run-time" type errors can result when associated application extension files (also called ActiveX controls) are not registered in Windows for use by the requesting program.

To register an ActiveX control (dll or ocx) file in Windows Vista:

Select Start > All Programs > Accessories
Right-click on "Command Prompt" in the Accessories
Click "Run as Administrator"
Change Directory if necessary:
- Type cd\ [then press Enter]
- to register a CTI dll file, type cd\Program Files\Cti Navigator [then press Enter]
- to register a Windows dll or ocx, type cd\Windows\System32 [then press Enter]
Type regSvr32 {fileName.dll} [or regSvr32 fileName.ocx as appropriate] (Note 1: Substitute the name of the file to be registered for "fileName" and do not type the {} braces. Also, there is one space between regsvr32 and the fileName.)
A message indicating "DllRegisterServer in... succeeded" should appear.

Note 2: You can add a file to the Windows Vista registry that will allow you to right-click on any DLL file and simply select Register or Unregister (without going through the detailed commands). To add the Register and Unregister command to your right-click menu, go to www.ctimls.com/Downloads/Windows/Vista/VistaDll.reg > click Save > right-click on the saved file in your Vista > select Merge > accept the registry change notice. To also add a file to the Windows Vista registry that will allow you to right-click on any OCX file to register or unregister it, go to www.ctimls.com/Downloads/Windows/Vista/VistaOcx.reg > click Save > right-click on the saved file in your Vista > select Merge > accept the registry change notice. Warning: Before making any registry changes, Microsoft highly recommends that you make a backup of your registry (see related article below).

In versions of Windows prior to Vista, ActiveX files (such as .dll or .ocx) can be registered by double-clicking on the filename in Windows Explorer. If opening, running, or double-clicking on a file with a .dll extension (Dynamic Link Library) or an .ocx extension (OLE Control Extension) brings up an "Open With" screen: click the "Browse" (or "Other") button on the lower right of the screen > progressively select directories and change the "Look-in" box on the next screen to C:\Windows\System32\regsvr32.exe > double-click on regsvr32.exe (or click the Open button) > verify that a check mark is in the "Always Use" box on the lower left of the Open With screen > click the OK button on the Open With screen. A message should appear indicating that the registration succeeded.

Sometimes files need to be un-registered and then re-registered. To un-register a Windows system file and then re-register it:

Select Start > Run (or in Vista press the Windows logo key + R key)
Type Regsvr32 /u {Filename.ocx} [There is one space both before and after /u. Do not type the {} braces. Also see note 3 below.]
Click the OK button. A message indicating DllUnregisterServer... succeeded will appear.
Then re-register the file by running Regsvr32 {Filename.ocx or .dll} (as described above. See also note 4 below)

Note 3: If regsvr32.exe is not in your Windows\System32 folder, Browse to the Windows\System folder (in Windows 98), or use the Search function in Windows to find the regsvr32.exe file.

Note 4: 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 run Regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Cti Navigator\CtiAnnouncement.dll"

Security and ActiveX Controls

ActiveX controls are not inherently unsafe when used appropriately by trusted developers (such as Creative Technology, Adobe, and Apple - see examples below). Problems occur when Internet Explorer is set to allow ActiveX controls to download and activate from any web page (including unknown and non-trusted sites). Some (non-trusted) web pages may contain undesirable or malicious ActiveX controls (such as spyware or adware). To avoid accidentally downloading undesirable ActiveX controls, it is recommended that Internet Explorer be configured to not install ActiveX controls from un-trusted sites. See the related article "Configure Security settings in Windows XP and Vista" for instructions on setting ctimls.com as a Trusted site.

To restrict running possibly unsafe ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer:

Open Internet Options (in Windows Control Panel or in Internet Explorer Tools)
Select the Security tab
Click the Custom Level button
Disable "Download unsigned ActiveX controls"
Disable "Initialize & script ActiveX controls not marked as safe".

As long as the above restrictions are set, typically the following settings are considered safe:

Enable " Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins"
Enable "Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting"
Prompt "Download signed ActiveX controls".

Example programs using trusted ActiveX controls: Adobe Reader, Apple QuickTime Player, CTI Navigator, Macromedia Flash Player, Microsoft Windows Media Player, Real Networks RealPlayer, Sun Java Virtual Machine.