How to Deal with the CDO.Message error

The following cdo.message error may be displayed on your computer when you attempt to send an email message using an email application:

“Could not create ‘CDO.Message” error message.

Cause of the Error

An issue with Microsoft Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) is known to generate these error messages.

The following are some of the reasons due to which the error may generate:

  • The DLL file cdosys.dll is incorrectly registered.
  • The user account is not given the permissions required to gain access to the CDO registry key for the Microsoft Windows 2000 Library (Cdosys.dll).

Resolution Methods

Warning: Some of the methods listed below require you to make direct changes to the registry. Remember that any incorrect changes to registry may have dangerous repercussions, at times, forcing you to reinstall the entire operating system. This is why you should edit the registry only if you are completely confident about the task and after making a backup by using the Windows Registry Editor tool or a reliable third-party registry tool, such as RegServe.

Method 1: Register the Cdosys.dll File if there are Issues with the current configuration

  1. Check the Cdosys.dll file registration configuration:
    • On the Start menu, select Run, type regedit32 and then click OK.
    • In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry entry: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{CD000000-8B95-11D1-82DB-00C04FB1625D}\ {CD000000-8B95-11D1-82DB-00C04FB1625D}\ 1.0\0\win32
    • The following entry should be displayed on the right pane of the Registry Editor window:
      Drive:\WINDOWS\system32\cdosys.dll
  1. If the entry is not there, on the Start menu, select Run, type regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\cdosys.dll and then click OK.

The cdosys.dll file will be registered on your computer.

While performing this task, you may receive the 0x800704da error code if there are multiple CDO versions on your computer.

If this happens, then first unregister the cdosys.dll file by running the following command:

regsrv32 -u cdosys.dll

Next, re-register the file by running the following command:

regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\cdosys.dll

Method 2: Grant your user account the required permissions to the CDO registry key for Windows 2000 Library

  1. On the Start menu, select Run, type regedit32 and then click OK.
  2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry entry: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{CD000000-8B95-11D1-82DB-00C04FB1625D}\
  3. Right-click {CD000000-8B95-11D1-82DB-00C04FB1625D} and then select Permissions.
  4. Click Add.
  5. Type your user name, select the Allow check box for the Read permission and then click OK.
  6. Restart the system.

Problems with the registration of DLL files may occur due to malware infections and a corrupt Windows registry. To prevent these issues from being the cause of errors on your computer, you need to take the following preventive measures:

  • Configure reliable antivirus and antispyware utilities, such as STOPzilla Antivirus and Spyware Cease on your computer.
  • Configure these tools to update regularly and perform regular malware scans to ensure that your PC stays clean.
  • Enable the real-time protection feature to block unauthorized access and infiltration to your PC.
  • Use a reliable third-party registry tool, such as RegServe, to scan and clean your registry on a regular basis.

Remember, that just like everything else you own, the life and health of your PC is in your hands. Perform regular preventive maintenance and be vigilant about what you install, download and copy to your computer to ensure that your PC performs at its best for a long time.