Hi HomerJ,
I had a case that reported the same issue and I have conferred with Microfocus engineering over the issue. The following was what they reported:

''I have uploaded the KM document from Microfocus regarding this issue and essentially this is the way that Microsoft coded the COM module on this and there is nothing that can be done by Microfocus or any third party regarding this issue (it is not an ALM only issue but other applications are experiencing the same thing). this resolution is essentially this:
ALM 12.55 client uses the Microsoft Lync SDK to connect to the running instance of the Microsoft Skype4 client (aka Lync client).?The Lync SDK uses the Windows Component Object Model (COM) infrastructure, which hides the different Client versions and 32/64 it instances.
The COM part is implemented and installed with the Microsoft Skype4/Lync installation.
This error indicates a problem within the COM configuration or the specific DLL or COM module.?Unfortunately, ALM cannot repair these issues because they belong to the Skype4 / Lync or Office setup. Repairing the Office installation can repair the COM issues in most cases .?However, a broken COM configuration will sometimes fail to repair with this procedure. In that case, a complete re-installation of the PC (including Windows OS) is required. ''

This is not something that they or any third party will be able to fix due to this coding constraint instituted by Microsoft.

Hope this answers your question fully,
Dan