Are you trying to install UFT or QTP but are getting some strange error messages like:
Error attempting to open source file ….
Module … failed to register
I get a lot of emails asking me about various UFT/QTP install error messages. To be honest the error messages HP gives are not very helpful and can be caused by multiple issues.
Although there are no quick fixes here are some common ways to try to resolve these types of issues.
6 Possible reasons you are getting install errors
- UAC
The biggest reason for most errors is when you are trying to install on a machine that has its User Account Control (UAC) enabled. UAC and UFT do not mix. Make sure that you temporarily turn UAC off during the QTP install.

- Permission issue
You need to be logged in to the machine with a user that has full administrator rights.
- Installing from a shared drive
Sometimes you can get odd behavior if you are installing UFT from a shared or mapped drive. To avoid issues you should copy all the UFT/QTP install files locally to your machine.
- Corrupted installation files
This is a long shot but sometimes the actual UFT install file you download from HP gets corrupted. This is usually caused by downloading the install from a non-internet explorer browser. I know most of us try to avoid using IE whenever possible but make sure you do use IE with the HP download manager option to avoid corruption.
- DVD/CD drive software
If you are trying to install from an .ISO image the DVD/CD software you are using may be having issue reading the installation files properly. One workaround for this issue is to use a zip tool like 7Zip or WinRar to extract all the contents of the ISO image before doing the install.
- Active Template Library file (alt.dll) is not registered
The ATL is a set of Microsoft developed template-based C++ classes used to simplify programming using COM objects. Not having this DLL registered can cause QTP install issues. Try to register atl.ddl located in the WindowsSystem32 folder and see if that helps:
Click on Start>Run
In the Run window enter regsvr32 “C:WINDOWSsystem32atl.dll”

If everything works you should get a RegSvr32 succeeded message:

Happy MicroFocus UFT Install
Hopefully one of these six suggestions will fix your install issue. If you have any other Unified Functional Testing install fix/suggestions lets us know!
Joe Colantonio is the founder of TestGuild, an industry-leading platform for automation testing and software testing tools. With over 25 years of hands-on experience, he has worked with top enterprise companies, helped develop early test automation tools and frameworks, and runs the largest online automation testing conference, Automation Guild.
Joe is also the author of Automation Awesomeness: 260 Actionable Affirmations To Improve Your QA & Automation Testing Skills and the host of the TestGuild podcast, which he has released weekly since 2014, making it the longest-running podcast dedicated to automation testing. Over the years, he has interviewed top thought leaders in DevOps, AI-driven test automation, and software quality, shaping the conversation in the industry.
With a reach of over 400,000 across his YouTube channel, LinkedIn, email list, and other social channels, Joe’s insights impact thousands of testers and engineers worldwide.
He has worked with some of the top companies in software testing and automation, including Tricentis, Keysight, Applitools, and BrowserStack, as sponsors and partners, helping them connect with the right audience in the automation testing space.
Follow him on LinkedIn or check out more at TestGuild.com.
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