After installing a nearly completed application that I developed in VFP 7.0 using Install Shield Express 3.5, I noticed that the Search function under the Start menu no longer worked. The error was ‘A file that is required to run Search Companion cannot be found. You may need to run setup.’ After uninstalling the app, Search worked, so it’s undoubtedly the newly created app or the install that’s causing the problem. My test computer is running XP Home version as is my development computer.

When trying to open any of the system tools they won’t open and gave the error “MMC cannot open the file C:\Windows\System32\compmgnt.msc.” (or what ever system tool I tried to open) “This may be because the file does not exist, is not an MMC console, or was created by a later version of MMC. This may also be because you do not have sufficient access rights to the file.” But the files do exist, I do have access rights, and I don’t see how a different version of MMC could be a factor.

There were some dll’s that were placed in the System folder initially but I’ve since remedied that and they are now being placed in the [INSTALLDIR]. I thought it might have something to do with the merge modules so I took them out of the installer but the same thing happens. The Search and System Tools cease to work. I’ve reinstalled the system each time I tried to reinstall the app to be sure I was starting with a clean system but to no avail.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m sure it must be something simple or I would have found something similar discussed on UT or Wiki. TIA.