Mshtml.dll was loaded, but the DllRegisterServer entry point was not was not found. This file cannot be registered'

Is is impossible to register the mshtml.dll because it is an unregisterable file.

The advice from the Microsoft engaged alleged "expert" is wrong.

The "experts" from Microsoft somehow believe that every file that has a .dll extension needs to be or can be registered and that is not true.

You can only register DLLs that have inside them the function called DllRegisterServer like you can see in this example of jscript.dll which is a registerable DLL:


As you can see in the next example, the mshtml.dll does NOT have the DLLRegisterServer function in it:

Therefore any advice to register the mshtml.dll does not make sense since it is not a registerable DLL.

Try to register an unregisterable DLL and you will see a message like this:

The error message makes perfect sense - because the entry point DllRegisterServer is not found in mshtml.dll.

No amount of sfc /scannow will magically make an unregisterable file registerable.

I don't know how to fix the problem in Windows 8.1 and you should start a new topic in the Windows 8.1 forums (this is the XP forum) so click here to get started:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

Since the MS Answers forums does not prompt for any fundamental system information when a new question is asked, I sometimes make my instructions work for most people.  If you are running Windows XP and greater than Internet Explorer 6, the mshtml.dll file has no registration point hence the harmless error message. 

It does not mean the file is corrupted or replaced with an improperly coded DLL - you are attempting an operation on a DLL file that does not make sense.  You might as well try to register omaJohn.dll (if there was such a thing).

Just because a file has a .DLL extension does not mean it is registerable or can be registered, therefore not all DLL files need to be or can be registered  and it does no harm to reregister a DLL that has already been registered.

The way the System File Checker works is grossly misunderstood in the forums, especially by the Microsoft engaged Support Engineer "experts".  If anybody wants to know more about how it really works, I have just the test scenario you can run to help understand what it does and what it doesn't do.  Then you will be smarter than the average bear.

Suggesting sfc /scannow is akin to saying "I have no idea what the problem is or how to fix it".

I will save you some time and frustration:

The mshtml.dll after Internet Explorer 6 has no entry point for registration.

Unless you are using Internet Explorer 6, those directions will not allow you to unregister or re-register the mshtml.dll file (try it).

Running the scan also will not help you.

Running sfc /scannow only replaces file in the following folder:

%Systemroot\system32\dllcache

Unless it is your desire to check up on your dllcache folder, running sfc /scannow is only good for one thing:  wasting your time.

If you do not have a genuine bootable XP installation CD that matches your installed Service Pack (most people don't), sfc /scannow will also be frustrating and annoying and a further waste of time as you try to stop it.

stoneyt, try to provide more information about your issue (the first description not quite enough):

Maybe someday the XP forums "Ask a question" dialog will ask these questions automatically when a new thread is started so I do not have to ask them every single time.  It might even be possible to resolve an issue in a single reply when enough information is provided.

Please provide additional information about your system:

What is your system make and model?

What is your XP Version and Service Pack?

Describe your current antivirus and anti malware situation:  McAfee, Symantec, Norton, Spybot, AVG, Avira!, MSE, Panda, Trend Micro, CA, Defender, ZoneAlarm, PC Tools, Comodo, etc.

Does the afflicted system have a working CD/DVD drive?

Do you have a genuine bootable XP installation CD (this is not the same as any Recovery CDs that came with your system)?

What do you see that you don't think you should be seeing?

What do you not see that you think you should be seeing?

Fill in the blank:  My system was working fine until: ____________________________________________.

Do, or do not. There is no try.

I decided to save up points for a new puppy instead of a pony!

I know this is an old thread, so it may be considered "dead", but the problem listed is mine, and the solutions don't apply.

I'm on Windows 8.1, and the issue exhibits itself as a blank Control Panel window. I found help that said to register three DLLs (vbscript, jscript, and mshtml) and the first two registered file. Then mshtml.dll failed as mentioned.

SFC results:

"C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan.  This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.

Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations."

Dialog text for unregister and register both:

"The module "mshtml.dll" was loaded but the entry-point DllUnregisterServer was not found.

Make sure that "mshtml.dll" is a valid DLL or OCX file and then try again."

If this really warrants a new thread, I don't mind starting one, but Bing found this and it seems to follow the original post pretty thoroughly, so I thought I'd try here first.

My mshtml.dll file is modified date of 9-18-2014 8:44pm, version 11.0.9600.17344.

Clearly the file is either corrupted or has been replaced with an improperly coded DLL file.

Work computer so I have installs coming and going all the time for AutoCAD, Power GeoPak, Adobe products, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, etc. I first noticed the issue a few days ago. I'll try a System Restore next.