Windows 'Bad image ' error message

[Guest]

I purchased a new Toshiba Satellite A135-S4477 about a month ago, and only
recently whenever I open most applications, an error message like this always
apppears before clicking OK for the application to load.

C:\Windows\system32\csapi.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it
contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original
installation media or contact your system administrator or the saftware
vendor for support.

It didn't used to happen before so I'm wondering what the problem might
be.....anyone got any suggestions?

 

[dean-dean]

If you go to C:\Windows\system32, right-click on csapi.dll, and choose
Properties, can you figure out, on the Details tab, what company it's from,
or what program or driver might be using it?

 

[Guest]

Hi, thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. Anyway there isn't any such
information available on the details tab, all that is offered is the type and
size of file plus the date of modification.

I'm curious as to how that information would have helped to get to the
bottom of the problem.

 

[dean-dean]

Well, it's not a file that comes with Vista. I'm trying to determine what
program or driver installation added it to the System32 folder. The fact
that the Details tab lacked any Copyright, File Version, or Product Name is
cause for suspicion. It's apparently a corrupted file (bad image) from a
program on your computer. What is odd is that it needs to run whenever you
try to start a program. If you go to Start Menu\Programs\Administrative
Tools and run the System Configuration Utility, on the Startup tab, is there
any reference to that file (look under the Command column)? On the Services
tab, put a check next to "Hide all Microsoft services". Are any Services
left showing that have no name listed under the Manufacturer column?

Do you remember installing a particular program about the time the message
started?

Try this. Rename csapi.dll to csapi.dll.old. Whatever program that depends
on it will complain that csapi.dll cannot be found. That may be a program
you will need to re-install, because of the corrupt file. Too, Device
Manager may show a problem device with an exclamation point. That would
indicate a driver you would need to re-install.

Do you run a program that might be a spellchecker for some of your programs,
one that would run when the program is run?

 

[Guest]

Hmm, then this doesn't sound good..thanks again. All the sevices under the
System Configuration Utility have a Manufacturer's name. All the devices
under the device manager are fully functional, I didn't see any exclamation
mark on any of them.

I am yet to attempt to rename the file as you suggested, I wanted to offer
some additional information I forgot to include before trying that. On
Shutdown (and restart), the following Bad image err message pops up:

Windows - Bad image
Exception Processing Message 0x000007b Parameters 0x760E023C 0x760E023C
0x760E023C 0x760E023C

Also, with regards to the first err message, it seems not to be consistent.
Usually whenever Windows Live Messenger signs me in onto in the internet, I
get that message. This didnt happen the second time a signed in today, some
hours after the first.

Secondly, the first err message appears whenever I try to load the 'Toshiba
Game Console' application.

Thanks.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I purchased a new Toshiba Satellite A135-S4477 about a month ago, and only
recently whenever I open most applications, an error message like this
always
apppears before clicking OK for the application to load.

C:\Windows\system32\csapi.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or
it
contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original
installation media or contact your system administrator or the saftware
vendor for support.

It didn't used to happen before so I'm wondering what the problem might
be.....anyone got any suggestions?

A quick search for that filename turns up a lot of hits about Autodesk
software.

 

[dean-dean]

Well, my suspicion is that it's something to do with your 'Toshiba Game
Console' program. This is a product made by Wild Tangent. I would go ahead
and rename the file csapi.dll to csapi.dll.old. It won't hurt anything, and
you can rename it back after the experiment. After doing this, try to run
the program and see if it squawks about not being able to find csapi.dll.
You might also try Windows Live Messenger, to see if that program complains.

If the file belongs to the 'Toshiba Game Console', Wild Tangent may be
running in the background on your computer, trying to "phone home"
occasionally, for updates for game media/advertising stuff. Are Wild
Tangent games somehow part of your Messenger program?

As an aside, Wild Tangent is sort of considered "grayware" in terms of
having it on one's computer. Perhaps they have a better reputation than they
used to, I dunno.

If you are unable to rename the file because it's in use, try disabling the
Wild Tangent program, and/or Wild Tangent Update, or Toshiba Game Console
from running at startup, using Windows Defender > Tools > Software Explorer.
Restart your computer, and then try to rename the file.