Category: Geeks r Us
Hello. Sorry for not being more specific on the title of this post. There are several things my computer is doing that I don't like at all, here goes:
1. I'm getting a message that says more or less the following:
"your computer might be at risk. No security product is enabled.
Note that this is a translation of the Spanish message I get though, as my computer is entirely in Spanish. So the English translation I gave, may not necessarily be the equivalent of the English error message.
2. When I go to the desktop and hit enter on my computer, the contents of the folder doesn't show. It shows an empty folder instead. Also, when I try to view the properties for that folder, I get an error message, something about a .dll file that's not valid.
3. I keep getting a warning that automatic updates are not enabled. So when I go to control panel and try to view the status of automatic updates, it won't let me. I hit enter on automatic updates and nothing happens. Nothings shows at all.
Any ideas of what the problem could be?
Sounds like you are having problems with your antivirus program. Do you have one? Is it up-to-date?
The message you get when you try to go to the desktop is, in my opinion, more ominous. What flavor of windows are you running? Is there more than one user signing on to this computer? In other words, do you have to enter a user name and password when you log on?
If there are other users signing on to the computer, do they get the same message about the desktop?
Finally, I have to ask myself (and you), what could have caused this situation? Have you made any recent changes to your computer, most especially your operating system.
Sorry I don't have a quick solution, maybe others do. I think we need a little more explanation. On the bright side, there probably is an easy way to restore the desktop: the bad news is, I don't know how to do it. So will have to do a little research on that one.
Bob
would it be possible to locate the offending dll file on the windows cd and shove it back where it came from using safe mode, that might be another option for you if you can find a pare of eyes to give you a hand with it
That's a great idea Fabolous. Simple, and might solve everything.
Bob
The first message you're getting sounds like this new windows xp message people get if they haven't got a fully varified legal coppy of windows xp. it's telling you that you're computer could be at risk from pirating.
that's my guess anyway.
You also get messages of a similar ilk if you don't have an anti virus program or a firewall installed and switched on. As for problems two and three I honestly have no idea. Have you got system restore enabled and if so perhaps try reverting to an earlier restoration point. That might help.
Thanks guys for your ideas and suggestions. I scanned this computer for viruses using nod32 and the panda online scan thinggy, and neither panda nor nod32 found anything. So. Yeah. Great. Now I'm more confused because I don't know if it's a virus what's causing the problem or not, though the aforementioned antiviruses didn't find anything on this comp.
Kevin, thanks for posting. The message I'm getting about my computer being at risk makes reference to some sort of protection not being activated, which leads me to think that the message is talking about the windows xp firewall being disabled. The problem is that I just took a look and the firewall is indeed enabled! So? Why am I getting a message saying it isn't?
Matt, I think it's a good idea to use the windows cd and shove the dll file back where it came from. Unfortunately, I don't have the windows xp cd. So I have a question that is rather stupid: If I buy one of those bootleg copies of winXP, can I still locate the dll file and put it back where it came from? In other words, is it possible to do what you suggested using a pyrat copy of xp as I can't aford to get an original one?
As for the dll message I'm getting when I go to the desktop and right click on this icon called "my computer", I'll try to translate the message because it is in Spanish:
rundll32.exe - Incorrect image
The application or DLL C:WINDOWSsystem32wuaueng.dll is not a valid image of windows. Contrast this with your installation disk. OK button.
Sorry for such a long e-mail but I'm getting really frustrated. Any more ideas of what the problem could be are appreciated.
Also, I would like to say that my computer is acting more or less normally except for those things. I mean, it does open word documents, it plays mp3's, it does open websites normaly. But why am I getting the dll message? Why can't I view the contents of the folder called "my computer?" Why did automatic updates disabled by themselves and I can't put them back on? Could it be a virus even though panda and nod32 didn't find anything? Suggestions or ideas please.
Harp, my antivirus is not32 and it's up to date, in fact it just updated five minutes ago. And I tried reverting to an earlier restauration but it didn't work. Any more ideas or suggestions?
Doing a google search on the net, I happened to find a forum in which someone has the very same problem I have. I would like to copy and past the entire forum thread so that you guys can give me your opinions. Sorry for posting the following with no line breaks at all, but it would take me forever to insert line breaks. So next post is what I found on google. At least I've relieved it seems it's not a virus.
HI
when i right click on "My computer"
and left click on "properties", I get a "rundll32.exe - Bad Image" message.
It says: "The application or DLL C:Windowssystem32wuaueng.dll is not a valid windows image. please check this against your installation diskette."
I have no idea what it is and how to make it disappear. Any ideas?? Thanks.David
Response Number 1
Name: Chuck 2
Date: October 20, 2005 at 08:02:31 Pacific
Subject: rundll32.exe - Bad Image
Reply:
Here is some info about that DLL-
http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/wuaueng/
I was wondering, have you ever installed anything related to Windows Update via a
floppy disk ??
Does the same thing happen if you right click for both ??
Response Number 2
Name: PhilC
Date: October 20, 2005 at 08:34:23 Pacific
Homepage:
thephilc
Subject: rundll32.exe - Bad Image
Reply:
The first thing I would try is to scan for possible corrupt dll's (Dynamic Link Library) files.
Start>Run> type in SFC /SCANNOW
Have your WinXP CD ready to insert when it asks for it.
Perhaps "please check this against your installation diskette" means your install CD
PhilC
Response Number 3
Name:
Stryker
Date: October 20, 2005 at 08:41:01 Pacific
Subject: rundll32.exe - Bad Image
Reply:
i remember sometime ago I had a customer with this problem....search microsofts site...I think they have a fix for it.
Also do as Phil suggested.
Response Number 4
Name: Chuck 2
Date: October 20, 2005 at 09:23:17 Pacific
Subject: rundll32.exe - Bad Image
Reply:
You can get info about rundll32.exe here-
Task List Programs
In testing My Computer Properties, I find that rundll32.exe comes up in
Task Manager
for me.
Maybe I have a buggy dll file ?
Does the same thing happen when you do-
Start,
Control Panel,
Performance and Maintenance,
then System
Response Number 5
Name: adamsab
Date: October 21, 2005 at 00:48:28 Pacific
Subject: rundll32.exe - Bad Image
Reply:
thank you all.
no i did not install anything related to Windows Update via a floppy, but i have problems to update windows.
Note from me, spanish cloud: I do have problems updating windows, too. Continues thread:
at http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/wuaueng/, they recomend to run "WinTasks 5.0 Professional" so i will try to get it.
I will do a SFC /SCANNOW and let you know.
after reading about it i think it is related to the Windows® Update Agent (WUA) that i have downloaded a few days ago.
I did not find a fix for that on
microsoft
site.
Thanks and i will let you know.
David
Response Number 6
Name: adamsab
Date: October 21, 2005 at 05:52:43 Pacific
Subject: rundll32.exe - Bad Image
Reply:
ok the problem has gone. PhilC you were right. i did a SFC /SCANNOW and it asked for my
windows CD
and now it's gone.
thanks a lot
David.
OK that's what I found on google. What do you guys think?
Wile you might think your system is clean, you should still do a virus scan in safe mode. If a virus is in deed running when you scan in normal windows, it won't be found, because it's cloaked itself, so that's why you need to scan in safe mode. Now you will need sighted assistance to do that.
If in deed you do have virus protection, and it's still saying your computer may be at risk, there's a good chance that a bug has disabled your virus checker and firewall, most viruses are known to do that, for example w32.spyrax, I've heard that's a particularly nasty one.
If this were me I'd do a total reformat and clean everything out.
Troy
To be a bit bold turn off system restore, put the machine in to safe mode and then do the scan. Aftwerword don't forget to turn on system restore again. the drawback is turning it off deletes all resrore points. I have tried this and it did help a client find viruses and kill them. like the dll scan that might also help and i would give that a try as well.
I am aware that some nasty forms of spyware can also play tricks with your system. You might want to download Adaware SE Personal, for free and set that to scan your system every so often and auto update itself too. Might or might not help, but I always think it's best to have that sort of protection anyway, there's so much spyware and adware around.
Well, This problem could be with not having security problems enabled, spyware, and, possibly, a change in the operating system.
I suggest you get a free antivirus program, such as AVG, a free spyware program, such as AD-AWARE and SPYBOT S&D, and I would also suggest you click on the balloon that says your computer may be at risk in order to learn why. You can probably restore it using a system restore point. Go to start, programs, accessories, system tools, and there will be an option to restore your comptuter. Enter to it, cycle around with the arrows to find a previous earlier date, and click enter to restore.
And, I didn't mention, that for not being able to access my computer, it might have something to do with JAWS. Are u using JAWS 6.0 or later? I have had some problems with that same thing, and I still haven't found a fix.
Hello again folks. First of all, I would like to thank all of those who gave me ideas or suggestions to fix my computer problem. Thanks y'all for your time. Secondly, I would like to tell you all that the problem is gone, finally! Now what did I do to fix it? Well I went to start menu, run, typed in "SFC /SCANNOW", inserted the WinXP cd when prompted, and the computer did the rest. I don't know what exactly it did, because jaws wasn't reading anything when the cd was inside. But once it finished doing what it was doing, I rebooted the computer, and the problem went away. I think it had to do with some corrupt dll files though. Anyways, thank you all for your time and suggestions.
Good that you got it fixed.