Missing .dll file in SP2

Question

Recently I had informed the Dell technical support team that I could provoke a local service error simply by just attempting to start it up. The result of this service not running creates Service Control Manager errors event id 7023, which could be seen in my event viewer. This error message would most commonly appear after removing programs from the computer. Together we determined that sp2 does not have the essential file that this service depends upon.

To see how this applies to you, the reader, open up Adminstrative Tools from the Control Panel, then open Services. Double click Application Management and try to start the service. If you get an error code (126?), then you require the missing file.

Go to the website dlldump.com and using the letter guide at the bottom of the page go to 'A', then 'A6' and download the appmgmts.dll file. Place the file in your C:\Windows\system32 folder. As per the paragraph above, you then need to start the Application Management service. I have my 'Startup type' set to 'Manual' with no further instances of errors.

RoHe · Answer

If you ran Windows File Checker (sfc) would it notice that the file is missing and reinstall it? Ron

W. Senkow · Answer

Originally the Dell staff tried to discourage me of doing this fix because they never heard of the problem. When I spoke with them the second time, I told them that I did it anyway and the bug was fixed. Then I heard from them this time confirming that the file DOES NOT EVEN COME WITH SP2, yet a service depends upon it. That would be embarrassing (from Microsoft's point), no wonder there's no publicity about it.

By the way, the file in my original post is a genuine Microsoft Corporation product, so there no need to worry about the authenticity.

RoHe · Answer

Somebody has sure been feeding you a very large pile of you-know-what. appmgmts.dll is a part of XP SP2. Version 5.1.2600.2180 is on my Dimension 8400 which came pre-loaded with XPpro SP2. It's in folders c:\windows\system32 and in c:\i386.

Sure, if you search the XP SP2 CD for appmgmts.dll, you won't find it. It's a compressed file on the XP CD named appmgmts.dl_. To 'install' it onto your hard drive, you'd type the following at the commnad (c:\) prompt:

Expand d:\i386\appmgmts.dl_ c:\windows\system32
(where d:\ is the drive letter for the optical drive; your drive letter may differ).

So I stick with my original presumption. If you run sfc, it would ask for the XP CD and install the missing file onto your hard drive.

Ron

W. Senkow · Answer

Good for you. It was not on mine, nor on the seven other computers that I worked on, three being Dell, and all with the current Microsoft updates. I have a Dimension 9150, and it has no restoration file with that prefix. So what is it that we should have done? Run sfc, then what? So where is this CD that you have? For those of us that are affected with this issue, should we go out to Futureshop and buy the operating system for at least $250.00 so we can run sfc? Hopefully we don't have to do a format and a clean install while we are at it. Message Edited by W. Senkow on 10-09-2006 10:56 AM

RoHe · Answer

There's no need to get snotty when someone is trying to help. :(

I have no idea what you mean by 'restoration file'. You had the option to order a full XP SP2 CD for $10 when you purchased your system. If your system is still under warranty, what you do now is contact Dell Tech Support, and ask them politely to send you the XP CD, Utility&Drivers CD, and the software CD for your system.

If this were the issue you claim it to be, these forums would be overwhelmed with people looking for that file. Yours is the first post I've seen about this problem.

Ron

W. Senkow · Answer

What I meant by a restoration file is that appmgmts.dl_ does not exist in my C:\i386 folder. It does not show up when I do a search with prefix appmgmts without or with any combinations of wildcards either. The issue exists in spite of and not because of restoring my computer to it's original state a few weeks ago. The same can be said for a friend of mine who restored his Dimension 3100 over the weekend. The service error can be provoked from that computer as well, and the necessary file is also not included with the system. None of the other computers I have been on have it either, but they are older.

What I am gathering from you is that the file is on your XP CD, AND on your system originally. I am not disputing that, but with this bit of news (to me), I find it even more strange.

Not only do I want to apologize to you for being so 'snotty', I want to thank you for your interest in the post originally, and in the attempt to fix it. By the same token, it is an issue, as some have this file, and others don't.

Warmest regards.

RoHe · Answer

It's my understanding that Dell creates "imaged" hard drives for their systems. In other words they copy fully installed XP onto new hard drives. They don't install XP on each drive individually. I suppose it's possible the image they're using is missing that file or, more likely, since I gather this is a new problem, the PCRestore image they used is missing the file. So when you did the restore, that file was lost.

I have the uncompressed dll file in both c:\windows\system32 and in i\386 on my system as it came from the factory, and on my XP CD too. As I said, contact Dell and insist they give you the XP installation CD. I am (almost*) willing to bet you'll find the compressed file on that XP CD. Your friend with the 3100 should do the same.

*Anything is possible with Dell.

Ron

W. Senkow · Answer

With the possibility of charging a service fee, Microsoft will address the issue on an individual basis.   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328213/en-us

JRosenfeld · Answer

Interesting. A long time ago I updated my original XP home SP1 system with the MS SP2 download (the full package, not using automatic updates). The file appmgmts.dll is not on my system, nor in compressed form or otherwise in the servicepacks\I386 folder.   I've also created a slipstreamed XP home SP2 disk, using my original XP SP1 disk and the SP2 install file. Its I386 folder also does not contain appmgmts.dll or appmgmts.dl_   I'd never tried starting the app management service (which is on manual by default). I tried and got the error. Downloaded the file to \system32 and appmanagement service started OK. I stopped it again as I don't need it. As far as I know, I've never needed it to install or modify software on this stand alone PC.   Edit. Just checked the link to the MS KB article that W. Senkow gives: it says this file is not installed in XP Home, which is what I have. Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 10-10-2006 08:38 PM

Windows General

Missing .dll file in SP2

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