Quick Summary
Error code 0x80040154 indicates that a COM (Component Object Model) object could not be found or registered. This usually means that a necessary DLL or component is missing or improperly installed on your Windows system.
Common Causes
- Missing or Corrupted DLL Files: The DLL file associated with the COM object may be missing from your system or has become corrupted.
- Incorrect COM Registration: The COM object may not be properly registered in the Windows Registry, preventing applications from accessing it.
- Incompatible Architecture: The application and the COM object's DLL might have mismatched architectures (e.g., 32-bit application trying to use a 64-bit DLL).
- Insufficient Permissions: The user account running the application might not have the necessary permissions to access or register the COM object.
- Damaged System Files: Core system files required for COM functionality may be damaged or missing.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Re-register the DLL
Step 1: Open an elevated Command Prompt. Type cmd in the search bar, right-click 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.
Step 2: Use the regsvr32 command to register the DLL. If you know the DLL's full path, type regsvr32 "[full path to DLL]" (e.g., regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ado\msado15.dll") and press Enter.
Step 3: If the DLL is located in the system folder, you may only need to type regsvr32 [DLL name].dll. For example, regsvr32 msado15.dll.
Step 4: If the target is a 32 bit DLL on a 64 bit system, try %systemroot%\syswow64\regsvr32 [DLL name].dll
Step 5: A message box should appear confirming successful registration or reporting an error. If you get an error, double-check the DLL path and your command.
Method 2: Run System File Checker (SFC)
Step 1: Open an elevated Command Prompt (as described above).
Step 2: Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Step 3: SFC will scan your system for corrupted files and attempt to repair them. This process may take some time.
Step 4: After the scan is complete, restart your computer.
Method 3: Check Permissions
Step 1: Determine which COM object is causing the error. This often appears in the application's logs or error message.
Step 2: Once you have done that, use Regedit to find the COM object. Open the registry editor by typing 'regedit' in the search bar and pressing Enter.
Step 3: Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{CLSID of the COM Object} Where CLSID can be found in the error message.
Step 4: Right-click the CLSID Key and select 'Permissions'.
Step 5: Ensure that the user account running the application has 'Read' permissions. If not, add the user account and grant 'Read' permissions.
Method 4: Reinstall the Application
Step 1: Uninstall the application that is producing the error.
Step 2: Download the latest version of the application from the official website.
Step 3: Reinstall the application. Make sure to always run your installer as administrator.