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Article ID: 216433 - Last Review: January 24, 2007 - Revision: 3.1

OLEXP: Err Msg: The MSHTML Control Failed to Create

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This article was previously published under Q216433
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
257824  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257824/EN-US/ ) OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express
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SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start Outlook Express, you may receive the following error message:
Outlook Express

The MSHTML control failed to create.

When you try to create or read a message in Outlook Express, you may receive the following error message:
Outlook Express
This note cannot be displayed due to an initialization error.
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CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Mshtml.dll file is missing or damaged, or if the registry entries for the Mshtml.dll file are missing or damaged.
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RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or folders.
  2. In the Named box type mshtml.dll, and then click Find Now.
  3. If the Mshtml.dll file is found, right-click it, click Rename, and then type a new name for the Mshtml.dll file (such as Mshtml.xxx).

    If the Mshtml.dll file is not found, skip to step 4.

    For more information about how to rename a file, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type renaming, and then double-click the Renaming files topic.
  4. Quit the Find tool.
  5. Extract a new copy of the Mshtml.dll file from your original Microsoft Internet Explorer CD-ROM, the folder to which you downloaded the Internet Explorer Setup files, or your original Windows 98 disks or CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder.

    NOTE: If you do not have an Internet Explorer CD-ROM or a folder on your hard disk that contains the Internet Explorer Setup files, contact Microsoft Product Support Services.

    NOTE: If you previously applied an update to the Mshtml.dll file provided by Microsoft, reinstall the updated version of the Mshtml.dll file instead of the version included with Internet Explorer or Windows 98.

    For additional information about extracting files, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    129605  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129605/EN-US/ ) How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
If the behavior persists, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regsvr32 /i mshtml.dll, click OK, and then click OK again.
  3. Restart your computer.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0
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Keywords: 
kberrmsg kbprb KB216433
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