Critical Internet Explorer error- help!

[Itisnotlogical]

When I try to open one of my programs, specifically a game design tool called Game Maker 8, I get the following error message:

Game_Maker.exe - Bad Image

C:\Windows\system32\HHCTRL.OCX is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support.

I have tried all of the above things. I installed Game Maker again (several times), contacted the administrator (that's me), and asked the official bug report system what to do. All they told me was that the file is somehow related to Internet Explorer and that I may have a virus.

Unfortunately, they completely failed to tell me what to do. I scanned for a virus and my computer's fine. I've used Game Maker several times and never had a problem before. So, I beseech you: what do I do?

 

[Jadzia]

An OCX is an activex object, which is basically a program/program module that can be embedded into other programs, or embedded onto a webpage for internet explorer. This was before flash or java applications appeared on webpages.

This was also in the days before the world started obsessing over security: OCX modules had direct access to the file system.

One problem is that OCX modules need registering before they can be used. Older operating systems would do this automatically, but modern ones may not because of that inherent security risk.

If this is the problem, you may need to register it through the command prompt:

Regsvr32 HHCTRL.OCX

If you suspect the file is infected/broken, you could try finding a replacement at http://www.ocxdump.com/ but as with all software from third party sources, you would do this at your own risk.

 

[RobertVA]

Appears to be an operating system file associated with HyperText Markup Language based help functions (thus Hyprtext Help ConTRoL).

Suggest scan the file with your chosen virus and/or malware software.

Obtaining the file version and date via the properties dialog and posting here might permit others to compare to their system to see if the information matches. Include operating system version with service pack level. IE version information might also be helpful.

You might be able to recover an uncorrupted copy of the file with the System File Checker (SFC) utility which must be run from a command console outside Windows. To recover files installation media would have to be available (optical instalation media or possibly a hidden recovery partition). Search Microsoft's support Knowledge Base for instructions for the Windows version you are using. You might receive errors about the installed version being a more recent version if some update (which might be part of a service pack) has replaced the version you had when your Windows IS was installed.

This is one of those situations where recovering an individual file from a operating system backup would come in handy.

 

[Itisnotlogical]

Jadzia, I scanned the file with AVG and it says the file is broken or corrupted somehow. I tried the little command-line thingy you gave and it said the file may be incompatible with the version of Windows that I'm running and to check and see if it's compatible with the x86 or x64 versions of regsvr32.

RobertVA, here's some of the stuff I could get from Properties:

Location: C:\Windows\System32
Size: 511KB
Size on Disk: 512KB
Permission for System: Read & Execute, Read
Description: ActiveX Control
Opens With: Unknown Application

 

[Jadzia]

As far as I can tell, this OCX is used only to embed windows help files in internet explorer, to give an alternative way of viewing them. This doesn't sound like it's an essential part of the Game Maker software.

I'm wondering if GM8 would run if this OCX was renamed, so that windows can't find it.

Sometimes where a broken file creates a error, a missing file would just be overlooked.

Alternatively the people on the GM forums will surely have experience with this problem.
http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php

 

[Itisnotlogical]

^^

It says that I need permission to rename the file (indeed, to do much of anything with it). I looked it up and this is apparently because Internet Explorer is an essential Vista file (Vista's probably the source of all my problems ) and hhctrl.ocx is part of Internet Explorer. Grr! I'll wait to see what RobertVA has to say on the subject until I decide on a course of action, though.

 

[Jadzia]

One idea: Is your vista the 64-bit version? If so, it may be that HHCTRL has some 16-bit dependencies, which could make that OCX incompatible with your version of windows.

Also, microsoft have documented an problem with this OCX in WindowsXP and did issue a patch, which may be relevant, even though you have vista:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935448/


.

 

[Itisnotlogical]

^^

There's multiple versions of Vista? I didn't even know, this computer is one my friend gave me when she got a new one. Is there a way I can check which one I have?

EDIT: I also tried to install the patch, it didn't work. I tried running it in compatibility mode but that didn't work either.

 

[M'Sharak]

^^

There's multiple versions of Vista? I didn't even know, this computer is one my friend gave me when she got a new one. Is there a way I can check which one I have?

Start > Computer > System Properties