comctl32.ocx win7

[meadows]

there was not a copy of it in SysWOW64 but yes it works thank you very much sir top marks for this forum now i can get back to it.

[BC_Programmer]

Just to explain for future readers, on x64 systems there are two system folders. C:\Windows\System32 is where 64-bit components are stored, and C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ is where 32-bit components are stored. 32-bit Applications, however, will get magically redirected to C:\Windows\SysWow64 if they access C:\Windows\System32. This causes a lot of confusion.

There is also redirection in the registry, which is probably relevant here.

regsvr32.exe in C:\Windows\System32 would be the 64-bit program, which registers and unregisters 64-bit components. It acts weird with 32-bit components, and when it does work, it registers it into the main registry.

the regsvr32.exe in the SysWOW64 is the 32-bit version, and will register 32-bit components in a way so that 32-bit applications can see them; (registry access by 32-bit applications in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT get's redirected to "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node" instead, so 32-bit applications will be looking for the component registration there.

[Geek-9pm]

32-bit Applications, however, will get magically redirected to C:\Windows\SysWow64 if they access C:\Windows\System32. This causes a lot of confusion.

HUH 

[BC_Programmer]

HUH 

Precisely.

I wrote about this behaviour some time ago.

Basically, 32-bit applications are often written to access components in C:\Windows\System32. This is why MS couldn't just make a new System64 folder for 64-bit components. In order to be as compatible as possible, Applications running under WoW64 (32-bit apps on 64-bit windows, that is) can still access C:\Windows\System32, but those requests are redirected to C:\Windows\SysWOW64. 32-bit applications that are aware of the redirection can access the actual System32 folder contents by accessing C:\Windows\sysnative.

This can be tested without having to write applications (or something) by using something like Command Prompt. C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe is the Command Prompt, as we all know; on 64-bit systems, this is a 64-bit executable. However on 64-bit systems the 32-bit version is still available in C:\Windows\SysWOW64.