Registering .ocx Files in SysWow64

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Occasionally, when using certain applications on 32-bit versions of Windows Vista and later operating systems, users may encounter errors related to missing or improperly registered ActiveX controls. These control files typically have the '.OCX' extension and are commonly found within the 'SysWoW64' folder.

To resolve these issues manually without resorting to third-party tools, follow these steps:

### Step 1: Locate the .ocx File

Firstly, you'll need to locate the specific OCX file that's causing problems. This could be a custom control provided with an application or software installation package, or it might be one of several system files.

### Step 2: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Next, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the 'SysWoW64' folder within your system directory (usually C:\Windows\SysWow64). Right-click anywhere inside this window and select 'Properties.' In the Properties dialog box that appears, click on the 'Security' tab.

### Step: 3 Grant Administrative Privileges

In the Security settings panel, look for the 'Users' or 'Administrators' group depending on your system configuration. If necessary, right-click this entry to grant Full Control permissions and then Apply these changes.

### Step 4: Manually Register .ocx Files

Now that you have administrative rights within the correct directory, navigate back into it using Windows Explorer's Address Bar (or simply type 'cmd' in Start Search bar and press Enter). In Command Prompt:

1. Type `regedit` to open Registry Editor.

2. Navigate through HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID until you find a key whose default value matches the GUID of your OCX file without the curly braces { }. For example, if your .ocx is called 'my.ocx', look for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{YourGuidHere}.

3. Within this TypeLib key, double-click on one of its subkeys named 'coclass' or 'CLSID'.

4. In the right-hand side panel, find and double-click the default value (which should be a string).

5. Overwrite all text within this field with an empty space (' '). Click OK.

6. Close Registry Editor by clicking File > Exit.

### Step 5: Register ActiveX Control

To complete registration:

1. Open Windows Explorer again, navigate to your OCX file's location (not SysWoW64!).

2. Right-click the .ocx or ocx-related DLLs you wish to register and select 'Properties.'

3. In Properties dialog box under 'General' tab click on 'Unblock' button if it appears.

4. Then right-click one of these files again then choose Open With > Choose Default Program...

5. Select regsvr32.exe (usually found in Windows\System32 or SysWow64 depending upon your OS architecture).

6. Check the box next to 'Add .ocx/.dll extensions' and click OK.

Alternatively, you can use OCX / DLL Manager

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If these steps seem too complex or time-consuming for every situation where an ActiveX control needs registration, consider using a dedicated tool like OCX / DLL Manager instead:

1. Download the latest version of this freeware utility from its official website.

2. Extract all contents to a temporary folder on your local drive (e.g., C:\Temp).

3. Double-click ocxdll32_xxx.exe (or ocxdll64_xxx.exe depending upon your OS architecture) and follow prompts through setup wizard until finished.

Once installed:

1. Open OCX / DLL Manager by double-clicking its desktop shortcut or Start menu icon.

2. Within the main window, navigate to File > Register...

3. In the subsequent dialog box select 'Register all .ocx files in specified directory' checkbox and browse for your desired ocxdll32_xxx.exe (or ocxdll64_xxxx.exe).

4. Click OK.

OCX / DLL Manager will now automatically scan through selected directories, register any found ActiveX controls, and add necessary entries into Windows Registry settings without further user intervention required!

Register .ocx files syswow64