hhctrl.ocx

Question

hhctrl.ocx

I'm getting an annoying error message when I open iTunes... it goes like this:-
"iTunes.exe - Bad Image
C:\Windows\System32\hhctrl.ocx is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error."
There follow messages about contacting the vendor for support etc.
Weird. I know hhctrl.ocx is an Active X control, but aside from that, anyone have a clue what's going on here? I have the latest version of iTunes & am running Vista. I should stress that iTunes opens fine, but only after closing the error message.

Samsung R70, Windows Vista

Posted on Jun 6, 2007 3:45 AM

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Answer 1

b noir

Level 9

72,324 points

Jun 6, 2007 3:57 AM in response to Blueoyster101

ack. okay, that one is associated with your Windows help. there was a wee spate of reports of problems with hhctrl.ocx on XP boxes when a Windows security pdate came down the updates pipe a few months ago.

try heading to Windows Update and making sure you're up to date on the available updates. (there were hotfixes for the XP issue, so fingers crossed there will be for the Vista issue.) once you're satisfied that you're up to date on that front, do you still get the error message?

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Answer 2

Jun 6, 2007 7:05 AM in response to b noir

Thanks for the post b noir. I have checked I'm up to date in Windows Update, and the problem is still there after a restart.

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Answer 3

b noir

Level 9

72,324 points

Jun 6, 2007 8:44 AM in response to Blueoyster101

okay. let's check your Vista help to see if that throws any error messages at you. (the idea here is to try to use any error messages that that throws at us as a way of homing in on the nature of the problem with your hhctrl.ocx.)

i'm not quite sure where the "Help" is kept on Vista ... the noir household Vista box is supposed to be arriving today, but Gateway keeps pushing back the ETA on it. is it in the Start Menu like in XP? if so, try launching it, and see if it throws an error. if so, what does the message say?

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Answer 4

Jun 6, 2007 9:33 AM in response to b noir

Help is pretty much in the usual place, but it's not flagging anything up.
Another symptom... iTunes can't now find its Helpfile.
Have noticed also that, in addition to the Bad Image message pre-iTunes, I'm getting the same message trying to launch two Helpfiles, one in "Cyberlink DVD Suite" and one in "Gnumeric" (a spreadsheet program - the helpfile here is combined HTML). Both of these error messages are headed "hh.exe - Bad Image", otherwise they read the same.

Good luck with Vista, by the way. Hope you have enough RAM!

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Answer 5

b noir

Level 9

72,324 points

Jun 6, 2007 10:04 AM in response to Blueoyster101

🙂 made sure to order 2048 MB ...

okay. i went searching the Vista community at Microsoft for anything relevant, but unfortunately all the threads there seem to be on the problem that was hitting XP:

Search Results: hhctrl.ocx

my thought here is that either your hhctrl.ocx has become deregistered, or just "gone bad" ... however it's probably prudent to get advice on reregistering it (or swapping it out) from someone who actually has a Vista box in their possession.

so it might be worth posting over at the Vista discussion groups. (not trying to get rid of you, just trying to get you on the radar screens of folks with more skills with Vista than i have.)

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Answer 6

Jun 6, 2007 1:21 PM in response to b noir

Much obliged my friend. I'm just in the process of rolling back the system using Rollback RX. I've found a good post-installation snapshot where everything works, so obviously I've installed something that's screwed up the .ocx. (Or it was a dreaded Windows Update!). I'll work my way through carefully and see if I can make it happen again!
Best wishes & thanks again.

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