Task Manager - application failed

[Paul Schoe]

Sorry to bother you with this, but I am trying for around three weeks now to
solve this problem and even though i have tried several virus-scanners
(Webroot, Kaspersky, and others), I can't solve it.

Problem is that I can't use a range of programs anymore because it either
comes with a:
"The application failed to initialize properly 0xc0000005" error or with a
"rundll32.exe application error" error.

The errors always appear twice.

I have the impression that rundll.exe is trying to launch two invalid or
damaged dll's but it doesn't give me information which ones, and since the
virus-scanners can't find anything, the problem keeps appearing.

In one discussion group I found a similar report, and that user installed:
"Microsoft Life - One care", which solved the problem.

I downloaded "Microsoft Life - One care" but during the install the
"expand.exe"program which is run by "guided help" provides the same error. So
although "Microsoft Life - One care" might help, I can't install it.

Other programs that I cannot start and always give me the 2 error messages
instead of starting are:

- Task manager (alt ctrl del)
- Add or remove programs
- Regional and language options
- change time (in the taskbar)
- display properties
- Firefox (no problems with MS Internet Explorer)

I try to prevent reinstalling my OS as I had too many programs installed
since last time so I would lose a lot.

Any suggestions on how to proceed are greatly appreciated.

I think that if i could detect which dll's run32dll.exe is falling to run,
that I could replace those dll's, but I do not know how to find that out.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Leythos]

I think that if i could detect which dll's run32dll.exe is falling to run,
that I could replace those dll's, but I do not know how to find that out.

Download and run MBAM to check and clean infections off your machine,
then consider doing a repair-reinstall if you're still having problems.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Click on the Free Trial, it's free and doesn't expire, it's a very
highly recommended and approved program for detecting and cleaning
malware from computers.

 

[Elmo]

Sorry to bother you with this, but I am trying for around three weeks now to
solve this problem and even though i have tried several virus-scanners
(Webroot, Kaspersky, and others), I can't solve it.

Problem is that I can't use a range of programs anymore because it either
comes with a:
"The application failed to initialize properly 0xc0000005" error or with a
"rundll32.exe application error" error.

The errors always appear twice.

I have the impression that rundll.exe is trying to launch two invalid or
damaged dll's but it doesn't give me information which ones, and since the
virus-scanners can't find anything, the problem keeps appearing.

In one discussion group I found a similar report, and that user installed:
"Microsoft Life - One care", which solved the problem.

I downloaded "Microsoft Life - One care" but during the install the
"expand.exe"program which is run by "guided help" provides the same error. So
although "Microsoft Life - One care" might help, I can't install it.

Other programs that I cannot start and always give me the 2 error messages
instead of starting are:

- Task manager (alt ctrl del)
- Add or remove programs
- Regional and language options
- change time (in the taskbar)
- display properties
- Firefox (no problems with MS Internet Explorer)

I try to prevent reinstalling my OS as I had too many programs installed
since last time so I would lose a lot.

Any suggestions on how to proceed are greatly appreciated.

I think that if i could detect which dll's run32dll.exe is falling to run,
that I could replace those dll's, but I do not know how to find that out.

Thanks,

Paul

Try this download. You burn the image to a blank CD then boot the
infected machine to it; it clears out the malware without Windows
running so the malware can't get control. This is software from Avira.

http://forums.techarena.in/tips-tweaks/1157825.htm

Just download the .exe rather than the ISO.

 

[Paul Schoe]

Thanks Leythos and Elmo.

I have more confidence in the approach of cleaning without booting Windows
(the Alvira CD) so I'll first try the Malwarebytes one (the one that
according to me is more likely not to work as other virus detection programs
couldn't solve it) and see if that already solves it.

If it does and I have time later this week, then I will place an image back
which had the problem and try the Alvira CD as well.

If it doesn't then I will run the Alvira CD immediately after running
Malwarebytes.

I will keep you posted.

reg.

Paul

 

[Paul Schoe]

Hello Leythos,

Thanks for your reply.

I downloaded the malware program but I do get an application error when
trying to install it:


"regscr32.exe - Application Error
failed to initalize properly (0xc0000005). Click on OK to terminate the
application"

The error arrived 5 times and is similar to the error I get with when I want
to enter the "Taskmanager" or "Add Remove Programs".

However after that, I got the following dialog box:

"vbAccellerator SGrid II Control
Runtime Error 'o'"

So maybe the download was damaged.

I now first download the Arriva CD and see if that works, otherwise I try to
re-download the Malwarebyte software.

I keep you posted,

Paul

 

[Leythos]

So maybe the download was damaged.

I now first download the Arriva CD and see if that works, otherwise I try to
re-download the Malwarebyte software.

I keep you posted,

Paul

I'm guessing that a Windows XP "repair/reinstall" would fix your
problem.

 

[Paul Schoe]

The reason why I didn't do that is because I am afraid that I will end up
with a blank OS and al my apps have to be reinstalled.

Also I have the automatic updates from Microsoft so I am not sure if I get
compatibility problems between the 'old' files from the cd and any new files
that Microsoft updated.

But I guess that a "repair" won't do that give me a problem with the apps
and that MS has taken care of the compatibility issue.

Thanks, keep you posted.

Paul

 

[Leythos]

The reason why I didn't do that is because I am afraid that I will end up
with a blank OS and al my apps have to be reinstalled.

Also I have the automatic updates from Microsoft so I am not sure if I get
compatibility problems between the 'old' files from the cd and any new files
that Microsoft updated.

But I guess that a "repair" won't do that give me a problem with the apps
and that MS has taken care of the compatibility issue.

Thanks, keep you posted.

Depending on how had your system has been corrupted, or still infected
with malware, you might be better off reinstalling from scratch and
trying to learn what you did that caused the corruption

 

[Paul Schoe]

Hi Elmo / Joe,

Thanks for your advice. Downloaded thr Avira AntiVir Rescue CD, burtn the cd
and ran teh program.

Although I like the approach: to scan for virusses without booting up
Windows so that all files can be looked into, it didn't solve my rundll32.exe
problem.

From what I read, rundll32.exe 'simply' launches dll's. It is a bit weird
that I can't find a version for XP that simply lists in a logfile which dll's
it starts. That would make problem solving so much easier.

Anyway, it looks that i am going to try a repair/reinstall, hoping that i
don't have to reinstall all my applications after that.

All the best,

Paul

 

[Elmo]

Hi Elmo / Joe,

Thanks for your advice. Downloaded the Avira AntiVir Rescue CD, burn the cd
and ran the program.

Although I like the approach: to scan for viruses without booting up
Windows so that all files can be looked into, it didn't solve my rundll32.exe
problem.

From what I read, rundll32.exe 'simply' launches dll's. It is a bit weird
that I can't find a version for XP that simply lists in a logfile which dll's
it starts. That would make problem solving so much easier.

Anyway, it looks that i am going to try a repair/reinstall, hoping that I
don't have to reinstall all my applications after that.

All the best,

Paul

A few other things you might try before reinstalling:

- Run MSCONFIG and under the Startup tab, disable any startup which uses
rundll32.exe to execute. Restart and allow the changes when prompted.
If you don't allow them, you'll see the same error messages again.

- Do this in REGEDIT:

Do a search for RUNONCE. At each Find, cursor up to the Run just above
it, if there is one, and see if there are any rundll32 entries. If so,
write them down, in case you need to reenter them later. Then delete
the entry, press F3 to search again. Also look for rundll32 under RUNONCE.

- In REGEDIT, you could do a search for rundll32 and see what you find.
You can click File, Export, and save the entry to the Desktop. If you
remove it and there's a problem, double-click the .reg file you exported
to the Desktop and it'll be added to the registry again. Or you can
attempt to create a restore point before editing the registry. SR might
not function though, and might have been disabled with your infections.

- Look in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

(and maybe in these too)

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shell\open\command
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\SHCmdFile\shell\open\command

Make sure the entry in the r-h column reads Explorer.exe with nothing
added on the end.

A hijackthis or malware forum may have been a better place to figure
this one out.

Good Luck.

 

[Jose]

Sorry to bother you with this, but I am trying for around three weeks nowto
solve this problem and even though i have tried several virus-scanners
(Webroot, Kaspersky, and others), I can't solve it.

Problem is that I can't use a range of programs anymore because it either
comes with a:
"The application failed to initialize properly 0xc0000005" error or with a
"rundll32.exe application error" error.

The errors always appear twice.

I have the impression that rundll.exe is trying to launch two invalid or
damaged dll's but it doesn't give me information which ones, and since the
virus-scanners can't find anything, the problem keeps appearing.

In one discussion group I found a similar report, and that user installed:
"Microsoft Life  - One care", which solved the problem.

I downloaded "Microsoft Life  - One care" but during the install the
"expand.exe"program which is run by "guided help" provides the same error.. So
although "Microsoft Life  - One care" might help, I can't install it.

Other programs that I cannot start and always give me the 2 error messages
instead of starting are:

- Task manager (alt ctrl del)
- Add or remove programs
- Regional and language options
- change time (in the taskbar)
- display properties
- Firefox (no problems with MS Internet Explorer)

I try to prevent reinstalling my OS as I had too many programs installed
since last time so I would lose a lot.

Any suggestions on how to proceed are greatly appreciated.

I think that if i could detect which dll's run32dll.exe is falling to run,
that I could replace those dll's, but I do not know how to find that out.

Thanks,

Paul

Did you ever try Malwarebytes? If not, why not?

There are several "easy" solutions on the Internet to people that have
reported this exact problem, but they may not work for you. No
burning CDs, no registry edits...

One is sfc /scannow, but you need to understand the "risks" in that
approach, but it solved one persons problem "instantly".

Other simpe solutions involve sound cards and have easy fixes.

Some research on your error message might be enlightening to see if
they apply to you.

Jose

 

[Elmo]

Hi Elmo / Joe,

Thanks for your advice. Downloaded thr Avira AntiVir Rescue CD, burtn the cd
and ran teh program.

Although I like the approach: to scan for virusses without booting up
Windows so that all files can be looked into, it didn't solve my rundll32.exe
problem.

From what I read, rundll32.exe 'simply' launches dll's. It is a bit weird
that I can't find a version for XP that simply lists in a logfile which dll's
it starts. That would make problem solving so much easier.

Anyway, it looks that i am going to try a repair/reinstall, hoping that i
don't have to reinstall all my applications after that.

All the best,

Paul

Ah, perhaps this site can help.. I burned the Trinity Rescue CD and the
BitDefender Rescue CD and will try them out on an infected system later
today.

http://www.techmixer.com/free-bootable-antivirus-rescue-cds-download-list/