PRB: VB/VB Apps Won't Run if Windows NT OLE Service Stopped

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This article was previously published under Q129800

SYMPTOMS

If the OLE service under Windows NT is stopped, when you attempt to start Visual Basic or an application written with Visual Basic, you'll see this error:

"Unexpected error; quitting"

Or, if the OLE service is stopped while Visual Basic or an application written with Visual Basic is running and you attempt to use an OLE control in Visual Basic, you'll see this error:

"Unable to create embedded object"

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Visual Basic uses OLE extensively for controls, data access, and even internal communication. The OLE Service is a necessary component for Visual Basic, but it is not absolutely necessary for this service to be running under Windows NT. It may be stopped to increase the overall performance of other tasks. If this is done, Visual Basic and Visual Basic applications will not run.

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STATUS

This behavior is by design.

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MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

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Scenario One

With Windows NT running, go to an MS-DOS command prompt. (Double-click the MS-DOS Command Prompt icon in your Main group in Program Manager.)
Type the following at the command prompt:
Net Stop OLE
Switch back to Windows, and start Visual Basic. You'll see this error:
Unexpected error; quitting
Switch back to MS-DOS, and type the following to restore everything to normal:
Net Start OLE

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Scenario Two

Start Visual Basic.
With Windows NT running, go to an MS-DOS command prompt. (Double-click the MS-DOS Command Prompt icon in your Main group in Program Manager.)
Type the following at the command prompt.
Net Stop OLE
Attempt to add an OLE control to the default form. (Any control where an .OCX file appears in your Project window will be an OLE control.) Visual Basic reports this error:
Unable to create embedded object
Switch back to MS-DOS, and type the following to restore everything to normal:
Net Start OLE

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