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Community Newsletter: Q&A: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe
- 9/8/05 5:37 PM
rundll32.exe
by kcraye - 7/22/05 11:57 AM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had the same problem with my ME system, it all started with a new printer. I called HP and downloaded new drivers and the problem corrected itself. I did keep coming up with the same message and I just over rode it and kept downloading, and it has been running great for 3 weeks !! Call HP or visit the download site. Hope this works for you, it cleared mine up, no problem !!
Dump ME
by TBolt - 7/22/05 1:41 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I suggest you just dump WinME and load a copy of XP Pro. 
RUNDLL Needed to open E-mail Attachments?
by edge_bit - 7/22/05 2:51 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think the attachments in question might be suspect... The shop probably runs an anti-virus product on your system and re-installs the file. If thats the case the system arrives at your home fine, but when you check your e-mail you end up trashing it agian.
RUNDLL32.EXE may even actually be there but some worm could be causing a false error message or the worm could be deleting the file (which pretty much disables a lot of Windows functionality as well).
RUNDLL32.EXE in WinME runs DLL files (Dynamic Linked Libraries)... What that means is it launches programs that you can't typically run without it. These programs are typically made to be part of another program (thats why they are DLL files). Sometimes the user (or some program) might want to run these 'parts of programs' individually to do one small task. Thats what RUNDLL32.EXE is for.
To prevent incoming e-mail messages from trashing your computer yet again I suggest you run an anti-virus product if you don't have one.
AVG Free Version is a decent anti-virus product that is free (there is a pay version with more features).
Its homepage is http://free.grisoft.com/
AVG Automatically scans incoming e-mail attachments.
To get RUNDLL32.EXE working again you should probably just re-install Windows ME (or take this chance to get a better version of Windows if your system can handle it). Otherwise, just send it into the shop again and ask them about what I've suggested. That might be your problem.
I hope this helps.
Cheers
missing Rundll32.exe
by trypper - 7/22/05 3:02 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In response to your question let me break it down in parts:
Part 1 - What is it, and where did it go? (Excerpt from http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;164787)
Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition (Me) contain two command-line utility programs named Rundll.exe and Rundll32.exe that allow you to invoke a function exported from a DLL (Dynamic Link Library), either 16-bit or 32-bit. However, Rundll and Rundll32 programs do not allow you to call any exported function from any DLL. For example, you can not use these utility programs to call the Win32 API (Application Programming Interface) calls exported from the system DLLs. The programs only allow you to call functions from a DLL that are explicitly written to be called by them.
Part 2: it's needed to open certain e-mail attachments
Depending on the type of attachment you are trying to open, it may not be needed. Due to the amount of viruses, trojans, spyware & other malicious software out there (ME is very susceptible), it may be one of those that is trying to open the rundll32.exe. If this is the case, then you may have a very serious problem.
How Rundll/Rundll32 Works
Rundll performs the following steps: 1. It parses the command line.
2. It loads the specified DLL via LoadLibrary().
3. It obtains the address of the <entrypoint> function via GetProcAddress().
4. It calls the <entrypoint> function, passing the command line tail which is the <optional arguments>.
5. When the <entrypoint> function returns, Rundll.exe unloads the DLL and exits.
I know my answer is on the technical side, but in plain english, if you can open an applet from your control panel, then Rundll/Rundll32 is on your system & has not disapeared. Also you may want to verify that your Hard Drive was setup for fat32 & not fat. Fat32 will setup ME to run 32 bit apps, whereas Fat will only allow 16 bit apps to run
where is rundll32.exe???
by happybottom - 7/22/05 4:54 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
hey you're lucky u don't have it. i haave windows ME and aol 8.0 - and every now and gain i get an error window WAOL HAS CAUSED AN ERROR IN RUNDLL32.EXE AND WILL SHUT DOWN....AND SHUT DOWN IT DOES. NOW CAN U TELL ME WHY???????
Missing rundll32.exe....
by xfire_22 - 7/22/05 5:39 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
First of all.. It doesn't matter what Windows version you currently use. Windows always has a rundll32.exe file because it is sort of an interface on how windows will execute applications...
If it has gone missing maybe you're infected by a virus, specifically I know of one which causes your rundll32.exe to be deleted it is the sircam (or xircam don't quite know the exact spelling) worm. Or if you have reinstalled it maybe the installer the computer shop used isn't a good copy maybe you should try another.
But one thing I know is.. Windows Me sucks!!! It sometimes crashes and you know what it crashed while I was doing my thesis papers!!! Windows Me isn't quite that reliable try other windows operating systems they are more stable than Me.
missing rundll32.exe
by ragent - 7/22/05 5:45 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
obviously as every one has said its a protected hidden file, but assuming it is on the system, i wouldnt mind making a guess that the error message is being generated by some adware or virus and not the application that you assume is causing the problem,
my sugestion would be to check out this first, by using SPYBOT after you install it updste it and then run it fix all the problems u find and maybe repost or mail me.
Windows ME
by lordevereste - 7/22/05 6:39 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i'm astonished anyone has the resolve and charater to actually use ME... WOW!
My recommendation...Format and load Linux, buy a Macintosh or LOAD anything other than ME... Good luck.-)
missing dll
by toap - 7/22/05 10:21 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Allen o. give this a try , www.dll-files.com/ you can download your missing rundll32.exe file here ,instructions on how to replace it on your computer are on the site , or just type [ rundll32.exe]in google search you should get all the help you need there . regards toap
correcting the rundll32.exe
by windman - 7/22/05 10:58 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
greetings,from what I have determined,since I lost that file once myself.I had to replace it from windows 95. It's a exe file for dlls,which I believe connect programs to the 32 bit system. These dlls are called strings,and without, certain programs will not run or only run in 16 bits. So, if you get a copy of windows 95,find the file rundll32.exe and then run it and see what happens. I hope this sheds some light on the subject. Windman. Windbags@netzero.net
rundll and run32
by tyeh - 7/23/05 4:47 AM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;164787
MS article 164787 explains what and how about rundll32, and differences in 95 and NT due to Unicode support. Possibly you've installed a software that's not compatible with WinME. suggestion: 1) save the problem email attachment to a folder, see if you can open it from the folder. Find out what's the file extension. In registry, find out which program is associated with the file extension. Uninstall that software. 2) upgrade to XP or get a new machine. Sometime, upgrade or replacement is more cost effective than fixing. Good luck!!
Rundll32.exe
by pdnRPH - 7/23/05 6:55 AM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My son-in-law had this problem with Windows XP. I contacted Microsoft and this resolved the problem. However, registry editing is something you have to do with care and sfc did the work after inserting my WinXP original disk.
Step 1: Edit Source Path Registry
=====================
1. Go to Start, click Run.
2. Type regedit in the drop box and click OK.
3. Locate the following directory in left pane.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
4. Right click the SourcePath key in right pane.
5. Choose Modify in pop-up menu.
6. Type C:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 in the box and click OK.
Please repeat above steps to edit the same SourcePath key with the same value of C:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 in directory of
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
Step 2: System File Checker (SFC)
==========================
1. Click Start, and click Run.
2. Type SFC /Scannow in the Open box, and click OK.
Note: There is a space between "SFC" and "/Scannow".
windos me rundll32
by rrrbs29 - 7/23/05 9:39 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I feel your pain. It's a softwear problem. I had nothing but trouble with windows me!! I finally got windows xp. When I had windows me. I would get run error all the time with the dll32. My computer would shut down too. My advice is to get rid of the windows me program and get xp home or even maybe windows 98 SE isn't that bad. My guess is you will continue to have nothing but problems with windows me. If it isn't one thing it is another.
Here is a slightly different approach
by - 7/23/05 9:54 PM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
After reading many of the responses, I think the simplest action for you to take is what I have below. First, let me say that there were a lot of wonderful suggestions & very inportant points made. Now, here is a different spin.
I think that the points about malware, and the attachments you are trying to open, and the nature of your internet connection are all important to note. That said, there are a few questions that you need to answer in order to find your solution.
What kind of anti-virus program are you running? and has it been kept up-to-date? Most AV programs have a self-update feature, but this can either fail or be deactivated. To check this, open the anti-virus program from the Start menu|Programs location, or if available, any desktop icon it may have created. Once open, go to the Help|About... menu & you should find something that gives the date of the most recent virus definitions installed. Anything more than a week old should be updated. The Help menu of the program should be able to give you specific instructions on how to do this.
NOTE: Some anti-virus programs have a limited period during which updates are provided. You will have to pay for a subscription renewal or buy an updated version of the program to extend this coverage.
It is very important to keep the virus checker updated. In my experience, there have been just 2 virus checkers that I have never heard any complaints about for failing to catch a virus: Grisoft AVG free & Trend Micro's PCcillin. The first is free & the second costs under $50 dollars & includes a firewall, malware scanner & Microsoft patch checker. PCcillin also updates multiple times daily, if necessary.
The Second Question is: Do you have a firewall between your PC & the internet? I would guess that you do not. This protection is important & helps keep bad programs from using your internet connection for "no good". Connected with this question is: What kind of internet connection are you using? Is it dialup, or cable, or dsl? For a simple dialup connection, a software firewall will suffice. Zone Alarm is a very well-respected free firewall. If you have been set up with either cable or dsl, the connection is always open & your computer can easily receive and transmit at the hands of a virus, so to speak. You should have a hardware firewall between the dsl/cable modem (sometimes called a gateway or a bridge by the service providers) and your PC. This is in addition to the software firewall.
Thirdly: What is your email program? I would guess Outlook Express. That is the default program that comes with Windows & the one that most new computer owners automatically use. I would suggest changing it to something else that is a little less prone to virus attacks. You can look on cnet downloads for a free email client. People hate me when I say this, but I suggest getting an email client (program) that can be set to "text only" mode. This mode is a little less prone to facilitate email viruses, but the fancy graphics, pictures, & link buttons can't be seen. Guess what? That is the reason why it is a little safer.
Fourth: What kind of attachments are your friends sending you? and, what kinds of precautions are they taking to avoid becoming "spam-bots", vehicles for passing spam, viruses, & malware on to others after becoming infected themselves? You can't assume that, just because a friend's return address is on an email, that they really sent it to you. Viruses will sometimes commandeer a PC and use it to send mail to everybody in the owner's "friends" list or address book without the owner's knowlege, or they will use the address book listings as the return address of emails generated by the virus. In other words, you may be receiving mail from someone who has a virus and has one of your friends' addresses in their address book. Under this scenario, you may even receive email from yourself!
The rundll application is a shortcut to activate a part of a program so that you have most of its functionalities available without having to formally open the complete program first. As was said elsewhere, it lets you, say, open Microsoft Word just by double-clicking on a word document's file icon, or to listen to the music in a .WAV file just by double-clicking on it.
When you click, or double-click, on an attachment, there is an association with some program that will let you see / hear/ read the contents of the attachment. Some kinds of attachments are:
.wav, .mp3, .wma, & so on, are music files
.jpg, .jpeg, .bmp, .gif, .pcx, & so on, are pictures
.mov, .mpg, .mpeg, .avi, & so on are movies
They should all be associated with an appropriate "file viewer" that rundll32.exe will tap into to show you the attachment. If that association / link is broken or damaged, you may get the "rundll" error message. This is why you need to record a list of the file names for the attachments causing this error. This information is important in the diagnosis.
All these questions address the differences between your in-home set up and the testing bench at the repair shop. Obviously, since the shop does not experience the problem you see, it must be related to differences between your home setup & theirs or between the uses to which you put your PC versus what they do with it. I am pretty sure they do not access your email as part of their repair work & most likely the tech does not sit with you while you demonstrate the problem.
Also, please try to write down the exact error messages you get, including any codes or program references that might be included. They could be a clue to the culprit.
Finally, try to open a Word document just by double-clicking on its icon in My Documents or in Windows Explorer (right-click on My Computer & select Explore from the resulting mini-menu to get it). If this works, rundll32.exe is probably right where it is supposed to be. It is possible that, if the error comes up for a picture file (like .jpg) or a sound file (like .mp3), that the program settings for these file associations with a program have been damaged or hijacked by installing multiple "viewer" programs. Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, Jukebox, & a few other popular programs all compete for the right to open & play these files. If you have several installed, one may have corrupted the file association & could produce this error (long shot here, but it has happened). Internet web sites will sometimes insist on installing "plug-ins" to play these files & destroy existing program associations in the process.
Inexperienced PC users can often be led to allow these installations in order to access desired files. Not only can they corrupt file associations; but some of them contain nasty surprises hidden inside, such as spyware & malware.
On the other hand, your email program may need to have a mini-plugin installed into it before it can call up the appropriate viewer program for the attachment you want to open. These plugins are usually .dll files. If that is the case, you may need to have the viewer program re-installed to see if it will install the .dll file that rundll32.exe is looking for. It is very likely that the error does not mean that rundll32.exe itself is missing, but that the .dll file it is trying to open is the one that is MIA.
Last question: Are the errors random, or can they be associated with a particular sender or type of attachment? Some of your correspondents may be using an email program that formats mail in a way that is incompatible with your receiving program. (Refer to Question 3.)
Just as a side note: I have actually told my friends & family that I will not open most of the attachments they send me because of concerns I have about hidden viruses, etc., that can be embedded in them, especially if they have been forwarded from person to person a lot before coming to me. Not surprisingly, they have all had some degree of virus trouble & I have not.
If you can answer these questions, I can better point you to a specific solution that will help cure your problem. I would prefer to do that before having you go crazy making unnecessary changes to your system. Also, all of the points made here, so far, are independent of the operating system you are running.
Upgrade to Windows XP
by bonjo - 7/24/05 11:02 AM In reply to: 7/22/05 Windows Me: Need help with Missing rundll32.exe by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My serious suggestion...upgrade your PC to Windows XP. I have heard nothing but problems from folks who "had" Windows ME on their computers. They have since upgraded their PCs to XP (or purchased new PCs)and are happy campers.
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