I have put this question to dell technical support, but thought I would try my luck here also. So, here is what I put to tech support:
Machine:
Inspiron 1545
OS:
Once with very latest slipstreamed copy of XP Pro (all latest drivers included).
Again with slightly older version that I knew to work on other machines (although not Inspiron laptops).
Error message:
I get "Run dll as app" error and it tells me that comctl32.dll is at fault.
From event log: Faulting application rundll32.exe, version 5.1.2600.5512, faulting module comctl32.dll, version 6.0.2900.5512, fault address 0x0003bd44
When:
Error occurs when I go to "Display Properties" in Control Panel. Then I go to the Settings tab and click on "Advanced".
It is then I get the "Run dll as app" error and it tells me that comctl32.dll is at fault. The advanced window fails to open and display properties hangs. This only happens after I have installed the graphics drivers for the Intel Integrated graphics card (latest drivers for xp taken from dell driver site).
The error happened on a fresh install of Windows XP. It was a new slipstreamed copy with all the latest patches, so I tried re-installing with another copy that I knew to work on other machines (although not tested on a dell laptop before).
After installing the other version I gradually installed all the different system drivers checking the "advanced" box each time.
The error occurred after I installed the Intel Graphics drivers (that I had just downloaded from the Dell driver support site).
I checked this by uninstalling the driver - and clicking advanced worked again. This I would guess narrows it down to the graphics drivers?
As far as I can tell, this is the only problem that the graphics drivers are causing, but it is worrying nevertheless.
I have tried re-installing the drivers (it only works when the drivers aren't there. I don't know of other drivers I can try.
I have also tried a sfc /scannow (before and after installing the driver).
I have tried re-installing a different Windows XP version.
I have run a windows update and got the latest version of things.
It's a new clean machine that only went on the internet when it was nearly fully patched (slipstreamed install) with antivirus, antispyware and firewall. So the chances of this being affected by anything like that is very slim.
Any ideas what I can do next?