Windows cannot find C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe

Anonymous
2009-11-18T16:24:30+00:00

Hi

Can anyone help me, i am trying to open files and folders and all i keep getting is Windows cannot find C;\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe, and so stopping me gaining access. I have been told that i could find the file on another computer paste it to my memory stick and reapply it, only problem i have there is i dont know where its located. I am on windows XP.

Many Thanks

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-02-17T15:22:08+00:00

hello friends i had the same problem ,  firstly my desktop icon was not working.. if i try to open any application a messege always apper     ''open with" a list of programm... when i try to open control pannel .. control pannel open but when i try to open add/ remove programm error appear c:\windows\system32\rundll32.exe application not found... . i was trying to solve this problem . i spent lots of time even 4 day. i have tried all the solution provided by this forum but none of these worked 4 me... now i have got  solution from this situation . my computer works perfectly... if u have same situation.

try

firstly u  scan ur system with a good antiviruse... if this situation apper after xp gurdian 2010 viruse aatack. or xp antiviruse 2010 attack..then download a file" exe file association fix" of 1kb from this link**http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file\_assoc.htm**

after downloading this run this file. always press yess  whilie run complet..  i hope ur system will work perfectly as mine...sorry for bad english

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Anonymous
2010-03-10T09:29:30+00:00

"open with" problem

 for those who afraid to download the "file assosiation fix" file from link propsed by me..... just use a internet cafe and download this file in a pen drive or memory card and come to ypur pc .. just install or run the reg file  and i think u will happy  to see ur computer working perfectly..sorry for bad english..

warm regard to all member

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Anonymous
2009-11-18T21:17:30+00:00

Hello Trackrat98,

Thank you for posting your question.

This issue occurs because of a missing or corrupted Rundll32.exe file. This issue may also be caused by a virus.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Put the<br>Windows XP CD ROM disk in the CD ROM drive.
2. Click<br>Start , and then click Run .
3. Type<br>expand X :\i386\rundll32.ex_ c:\windows\system32\rundll32.exe <br>in the Open box, where X is the letter of your CD ROM Drive.
4. Restart the computer

For more detailed information please see the corresponding KB article.

I hope this helps.


Lisa

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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Anonymous
2010-01-09T19:01:56+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, Lisa!  I did try the link but it says page no longer found.

Do you happen to know of any other solution to this darn missing file?  I cannot open any apps in my Control Panel! Ack!

Has anybody found a solution to this problem yet?  Thanks so much for any attempts to answer!

:)

EDIT:  I GOT IT!!!!  By browsing the internet, I came upon this answer:

***Find a copy of rundll32.exe in folder c:\windows\system32\dllcache or in c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386.

If you find this, go ahead and copy rundll32.exe to the system folder c\windows\system32.

Otherwise you need a windows disc to expand this file.***

I dd a search on my computer for the file "rundll32.exe" and it came up in a few different folders on my harddrive.  But it NEEDS to be in c:\windows\system32 (the folder it was missing from).  I found the file in the dllcache folder as indicated above, then simply copied and pasted it into the system32 folder.  And WALLAH!!!  Problem solved and Control Panel and everything else works just great now!  So simple!!!  Hope this works for you folks who are still struggling with this issue!

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-02-09T20:41:30+00:00

    Hi

    I did a system restore yesterday to get rid of a virus XP antivirus pro 2010 (some of you might know it) and since then i am having the rundll32.exe app not found problem but when i try to do your soution Trackrat, I run into a whole new one. When I try to open the file a window comes up asking me to "Choose a program you want to use to open this file" and gives a list of programs. It also does this whenever I try to open a appication such aas Paint or Solitare or Firefox or anything in my program menu the same message comes up. Can anyone help me with this problem??????

    I am having this exact same problem as a result of XP antivirus pro 2010 and got rid of it with Malware Bytes.  Am having the same problems as you when opening programs, no control panel, even the clock won't open when clicked!

    Everything however seems to work on another user profile I set up before I got rid of the virus....

    Most of my stuff is on the main user profile where I am having problems so I would like to use this.  Was pretty glad when I managed to remove XP antivirus pro 2010 (in safe mode with malware bytes) but this is equally annoying now!

    I am also having the same problems as you robert1321, in your post on Jan 31st 2010 @ 7:47pm

    Had any luck since at all?

    Help us Lisa!

    Leigh

    United Kingdom

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