OFF97: Errors Running System Information After You Remove Office

When you remove files installed by Microsoft Office 97 or when you run the Office 97 File and Registry Eraser Utility (Eraser97.exe) under Microsoft Windows 98, the System Information (Msinfo32.exe) program will no longer function. When you try to start System Information, you receive the following error messages:

This problem occurs when you remove the file Mfc40.dll. The Office 97 File and Registry Eraser Utility (Eraser97.exe) removes this file.

An updated version of the Office 97 File and Registry Eraser Utility that does not cause this problem with Microsoft Windows 98 is available.

To verify your specific version of the Office 97 File and Registry Eraser Utility, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click For Files or Folders.
2. In the Search for files or folders named box, type Eraser97.exe and then click Search Now.
3. Right-click Eraser97.exe. Click Properties on the shortcut menu, and then click the Version tab.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. Note Eraser does not run on operating systems later than Microsoft Windows 2000.

If you replace the Mfc40.dll file, the Microsoft System Information program will function normally.

To replace the file, follow these steps:

1. Using the Windows Explorer, browse to the \Os\System folder on the Office 97 compact disc, and click to select the file Mfc40.dll. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
2. Browse to the \Windows\System folder. On the Edit menu, click Paste.

The Microsoft System Information program will now function properly.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem is fixed in the updated version (version 2.0) of the Office 97 File and Registry Eraser Utility.

The Office 97 File and Registry Eraser Utility removes most of the files and Windows registry settings that remain on the computer after you remove Microsoft Office 97. This utility is designed to be run after you run the Setup program for Office 97 and click Remove All. When you run this utility, it removes shared system components. The Microsoft System Information requires these components and does not function properly after the files are removed. To correct this problem, reinstall the shared Dll, Mfc40.dll.

For additional information about this utility, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: