How to restore the Control_Run.dll file

[Denise]

Hi everyone!

I’m using XP Pro SP3, and I’m having problems reverting back to the original
desktop themes that came with the PC.

I can't change the theme to a Windows Classic Style because I keep getting
this error message:

An exception occurred while trying to run “C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll,
Control_Run.dll.â€, "C:\Windows\system32\desk.cplâ€, Displayâ€.

After doing a check on my hard drive, the only file that I can't find is the
Control_Run one.

After checking for viruses and trying to do a system restore without
success, I’m at a loss of what to do.

I even get ‘The visual styles cannot be loaded because of the file failed to
load†error message when trying to change the theme to a Windows XP style.

I’m more concerned about the Control_Run.dll file right now so I can at
least change the classic styles around.

Any help you guys can provide in how to get the file without the CD would be
greatly appreciated.

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:42:00 PM, and on a
whim, Denise pounded out on the keyboard:

Hi everyone!

I’m using XP Pro SP3, and I’m having problems reverting back to the original
desktop themes that came with the PC.

I can't change the theme to a Windows Classic Style because I keep getting
this error message:

An exception occurred while trying to run “C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll,
Control_Run.dll.â€, "C:\Windows\system32\desk.cplâ€, Displayâ€.

After doing a check on my hard drive, the only file that I can't find is the
Control_Run one.

After checking for viruses and trying to do a system restore without
success, I’m at a loss of what to do.

I even get ‘The visual styles cannot be loaded because of the file failed to
load†error message when trying to change the theme to a Windows XP style.

I’m more concerned about the Control_Run.dll file right now so I can at
least change the classic styles around.

Any help you guys can provide in how to get the file without the CD would be
greatly appreciated.

Hi Denise,

Control_Run.dll isn't a file. I just pasted:
“C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll, Control_Run.dll.â€,
"C:\Windows\system32\desk.cplâ€, Displayâ€.

into a Command Prompt and the Display Properties Desktop tab appeared.

Just typing desk.cpl brings up Display Properties with the Theme tab
showing. But you probably can already get to that.

You might have a corrupt file. You could try going through the
instructions here, especially because you have SP3:
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
You most likely have your SP3 files located here:
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles
where the i386 folder contains the files.

Terry R.

 

[Jose]

Hi everyone!

I’m using XP Pro SP3, and I’m having problems reverting back to the original
desktop themes that came with the PC.

I can't change the theme to a Windows Classic Style because I keep getting
this error message:

An exception occurred while trying to run “C:\Windows\system32\shell32.dll,
Control_Run.dll.”, "C:\Windows\system32\desk.cpl”, Display”.

After doing a check on my hard drive, the only file that I can't find is the
Control_Run one.  

After checking for viruses and trying to do a system restore without
success, I’m at a loss of what to do.  

I even get ‘The visual styles cannot be loaded because of the file failed to
load” error message when trying to change the theme to a Windows XP style.

I’m more concerned about the Control_Run.dll file right now so I can at
least change the classic styles around.

Any help you guys can provide in how to get the file without the CD wouldbe
greatly appreciated.

Please check the Windows Services (Start, Settings, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, Services) to be sure the Theme service is
running and set to Automatic. If it is not running, start it and try
again.

It probably is running, but if it is not you will get this error.

Be sure it is running after a reboot (Automatic). Test.

If that doesn't work, it is said that if you go to
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm and consider downloading
and running tweak number 187.

This tweak will change your registry, so you might consider exporting
(backing up) your registry before applying anything you download (from
anywhere!) so you can undo the change if you want.

 

[Tim Meddick]

There IS no file on your system called "Control_Run.dll". There IS however
a command that is commonly executed:


Rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL "C:\Windows\system32\desk.cpl",0


Which SHOULD bring up the Themes page of the Display 'Control Panel'
extension. If it does not run (try it by copying/pasting this command in to
your "Run" box on the Start Menu) then it IS within 'Services' that you
should be looking for the Themes service to make sure it HAS been started
(Services can be found by going to 'Start Menu' > 'Administrative Tools' >
'Local Services').


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Denise]

Thanks for your help, Terry, but the problem is still there. I checked the
I386 folder and the dll wasn't there.

 

[Denise]

Hey Jose,

I checked, and it was already on 'automatic'. I've already done the tweaks
over at Kelly's and that didn't work as the visual styles 'failed to load'.

I tweaked my registry back to a point before the whole mess started and that
didn't work either, so I'm just going to work with what I've got until I can
truly fix the problem.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Denise]

Hi Tim!

I ran the command, and it the Display window did pop up, but again the
problem still exists because of the missing dll.

I also checked your other recommendation and, like I mentioned to the
previous poster, the setting was already set to 'automatic'.

I'm just going to work with what I have and deal with the matter later.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:39:01 AM, and on a
whim, Denise pounded out on the keyboard:

Thanks for your help, Terry, but the problem is still there. I checked the
I386 folder and the dll wasn't there.

Hi Denise,

As I said, what you're looking for isn't a file on a Windows system
(Control_Run.dll). So don't worry about that. It has to be something
else.

I would follow the steps outlined in the link I gave you and run SFC,
but you need to point the Setup locations as suggested in the link to
the SP3 path I gave you above.


Terry R.