Summary

Symptoms

Cause

This issue may occur if one or more of the following files are missing from the Windows\System32 or WINNT\System32 folder:

• stdole32.tlb
• stdole2.tlb
• stdole.tlb

Resolution

The following steps explain how to locate the missing stdole files and extract them from either your computer's hard drive or the Windows Installation CD.

1. Determine which stdole files are missing.
   1. Click Start > Find > Files or Folders.
   2. In the All or part of the file name field, type stdole*.tlb to search for the missing files.
   3. In the Look in field, click Drive C.
   4. Write down which files are missing. You will use the file names in the following steps.

1. 1. Click Start >Run.
   2. Type CMD. Click OK.
   3. Change to the root folder of drive C, type cd\ or c:, and press ENTER.
   4. Insert the Windows Installation CD.
   5. Type expand cd_drive_letter:\i386\filename.tl_ drive:\Windows\system32\filename.tlb, and pressENTER, where cd_drive_letter is your CD drive, filename is the name of one of the missing stdole files (stdole32, stdole2, stdole) that you want to expand, and drive is the letter of the drive where Windows is installed. For example:
      expand D:\i386\stdole32.tl_ C:\Windows\System32\stdole32.tlb
   6. Repeat step 5 for each of the missing stdole files.
   7. Type exit.
   8. Restart your computer.

Does Your Issue Still Exist?

If after following these instructions your product failed to install, you'll need to contact your vendor. See the Who to Contact page for more information.

Related KB Articles

• What is a cabinet file? (Q108215)
• expand (Q108280)
• extract (Q108278)
• What is a hard drive? (Q108213)
• Windows Installation CD (Q108347)
• Windows System folder (Q108364)