Rundll errors - Cannot display the "Open With..." window

[Guest]

I’m having two problems with Windows that I have tried everything to resolve
short of rebuilding the system. I have been told that these problems may be
related.

So far I have tried the following without success:
• Searching the Microsoft web sites
• Running several repair utilities
• Copying the “.exe†files from another XP machine with the same build
• Asking colleagues at work who are responsible for maintaining the PCs

The problems are:
A. My Desktop PC is experiencing several “Rundll†exception errors.
The three functions where this has occurred so far are (that
I have noticed):
1. Clicking the “Safely Remove Hardware†icon on the Taskbar
The error message for the above point is: An exception occurred while trying
to run “shell.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dllâ€

2. Selecting the “Open With…†option on the pop up menu in Windows
Explorer

3. Clicking a packed downloaded file that does not have a
recognised extension, i.e. the Rundll error message is displayed instead of
“Open With…†window
The error message for the above two points is always:
An exception occurred while trying to run
C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL <then the path to the file on
my PC>

B. Windows Explorer displays an error message stating that an error has
occurred and it has to close.
This problem always occurs after a system restart. I am able to open Windows
Explorer and start expanding the Folders (3 to 4 clicks is usually the
maximum) before the message is displayed.
This problem will rarely occur again before the next restart.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

The problems are:
A. My Desktop PC is experiencing several ?Rundll? exception errors.

"Rundll.exe" is not part of Windows XP in contrast to "Rundll32.exe". If
the error message refers to "Rundll" rather than "Rundll32", you system
might be infested by malware.

 

[Guest]

You may have Rundll.exe in your pc. Rundll.exe is a worm.
check http://us.trendmicro.com/us/search/?q=rundll.exe

 

[Guest]

Thank you for taking the time to respond Detlev.
When I mentioned "rundll errors", I was only mentionting part of the error
messages I listed in my original question. I didn't want to confuse the issue
by adding the "32" (in case there was a difference) because none of the error
messages mention it in that form.

I've searched my hard drive and regarding Rundll, I only have the
"Rundll32.exe". there is no other form of this file on the drive.

I run NOD32, Online Armour, SpyBot and Ad-Aware. There is a comprehensive
Firewall in tthe Router. I run full scans regularly and nothing has been
found.

Thanks again for your suggestion as this type of problem is always a
possibility.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for taking the time to respond Rzpogi.
The error messages I listed in my original question don't mention ".exe" or
"32" and I didn't want t o make assumptions about the file in case it was
misleading for anybody who was try to assist me.

I've searched my hard drive and I only have the "Rundll32.exe". there is no
other form of this file on the drive.

I run NOD32, Online Armour, SpyBot and Ad-Aware. There is a comprehensive
Firewall in tthe Router. I run full scans regularly and nothing has been
found.

Thanks again for your suggestion and the site reference (I've Bookmarked it)
as this type of problem is always a possibility.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Thank you for taking the time to respond Detlev.
When I mentioned "rundll errors", I was only mentionting part of the error
messages I listed in my original question. I didn't want to confuse the issue
by adding the "32" (in case there was a difference) because none of the error
messages mention it in that form.

Well, there are more things making not too much sense to me. Excerpt:

| 1. Clicking the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon on the Taskbar
| The error message for the above point is: An exception occurred while
| trying to run "shell.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll"

The correct command would be
....shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll
^^
In case that there were no typos, your system is pretty much damaged.
Use the System Restore tool and select a date prior to the first
encounter of these problems. If there is no such restore point, perform
a repair install instead.

 

[Guest]

Thanks again Detlev.
I checked the error message again and it is, "shell32.dll". There is no
"shell.dll" in my system. Apologies again for the error in my original
submission.

As these problems aren't really "show stoppers", I have been trying to fix
them on and off for about 8 weeks now and a system restore would probably
create more issues for me than it would be worth due to the changes that have
occurred during that time. Also the last time I tried a repair install on
this PC, when the problem was a "show stopper", it crashed half way through
and the damage it left meant I had to start again with a hard drive format.

If the repair install option turns out to be the only means of fixing the
problems, I think I'd rather live with them until a system rebuild is
absolutely necessary. I find it difficult to believe that relatively minor
Windows issues such as what I have, just can't be fixed without resorting to
starting again.

I appreciate your suggestions and from past experience with using these
options, I have no doubt that either or both would fix the problems. I'm just
not willing to get that drastic.

I'm fundamentally against paying Microsoft to fix a problem that is their
problem in the first place.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Thanks again Detlev.

You're welcome, Ken.