Member Avatar for Sgurleyin

Hello all. My sister is having a problem with Rundll32 and can not get online to download any fixes because her AOL wont install correctly because of the Rundll32 error. Is there a way to fix the error offline? Any informatioin would be much appreciated.

Susan :sad:

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Building on 's successful recovery from install media and 's prompt for the exact message, here is a concise offline checklist and safe commands to diagnose and repair a missing/corrupt rundll32.exe (the symptom reported by was the system "can't find" the program used to open certain extensions).

First confirm whether the OS can actually see rundll32 and where it belongs:

  • On Windows 2000 / XP / Server/NT: the file belongs in %windir%\System32.
  • On Windows 95/98/ME: the file belongs in %windir%\System (usually C:\Windows\System).

From an elevated command prompt or Recovery Console, check and (if needed) restore from the original install media:

dir %windir%\System32\rundll32.exe
ren %windir%\System32\rundll32.exe rundll32.bak    (only if a suspicious/old file exists)
expand D:\i386\rundll32.ex_ %windir%\System32\rundll32.exe
sfc /scannow

(Replace D: with the CD/DVD drive letter. Use the equivalent system folder for 9x if restoring there; if the install media doesn't have a single-file extractor, copy the clean EXE from a matching machine or use the CD's cab/extract tool.)

If the file is present but the same error occurs, the problem may be a broken file association. On NT/2000/XP inspect and clear associations (run from an admin command prompt):

assoc .ibd
assoc .bak
assoc .ibd=
assoc .bak=

Use assoc to find the filetype name and ftype <name> to see the command invoked. Back up the registry or create a System Restore point before editing associations or registry keys under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

Finally, consider malware as a cause if rundll32 was removed or replaced unexpectedly. An offline rescue scanner or bootable AV rescue media is recommended before trusting a copied executable. If offline fixes fail, a repair install (or reinstall) using original media is the conservative last resort.

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Member Avatar for alc6379

Exactly what RunDLL32 error is it? That makes a big difference. Please tell us what the message said, and we could perhaps help you more.

Member Avatar for Sgurleyin

Exactly what RunDLL32 error is it? That makes a big difference. Please tell us what the message said, and we could perhaps help you more.

The exact error was:
Windows can not find Rundll32.exe. Program is needed for opening files of type IBD files.

Another time it said the same error but with BAK files.

Susan

Member Avatar for Sgurleyin

If rundll32.exe is truly corrupt or missing, it can be reinstalled from the .cab files either on the hard drive or on the Windows installation CD. The restore process (and the location of the "fresh" copy of the file) may vary depending on your exact version of Windows; try some of the suggestions in this Google search:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=rundll32.exe+cab+file+extract&btnG=Google+Search

DMR.. Thank you so much for your help! You have brought my sister back online to chat, we live 22 hours away from eachother, and after the last 3 days of her calling AOL and Gateway and them saying it was the other ones problem, I can now chat with my sister again! THANK YOU!! :D

Member Avatar for DMR

Glad I could help. :)


Happily marking this one as solved...

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