How to Remove the User32.Dll Virus

Get rid of the User32.Dll virus to stop applications from showing error messages.

The User32.dll file in the Windows program folder of your computer's hard drive contains vital information about your operating system. If this file is attacked by a virus, many applications on your computer cease to function properly, instead displaying User32.Dll error messages when you attempt to open them. So many programs are likely to be affected by a damaged User32.Dll file that your computer is rendered virtually useless. When the User32.Dll virus becomes corrupted, it is usually due to a virus. To restore the computer to health, you must both eliminate the virus and fix the User32.Dll file.

Instructions

Remove the Virus Completely

1. Open the antivirus software that is installed on your computer by double-clicking the icon in the taskbar. Click the "Scan Now" or "Start Scan" button on the main page of the application. Note any recurring names in the files that appear in the list of broken and corrupted files found during the scan. Choose the "Delete Files" option to remove the files from the system.

2. Go to the "Start" menu of the computer, then "All Programs." Open the "Accessories" folder and select "Run." Type "regedit" in the "Run" box and press "Enter." The Registry Editor comes up on the screen.

3. Pull down the "Edit" menu and choose "Find." Enter one of the recurring names that you noted from the antivirus scan and press "Enter" to highlight the first registry entry that includes that name. To remove the file, right-click on the highlighted entry and select "Delete" from the menu.

4. Return to the "Edit" menu and select "Find" again. Enter the recurring name again and press "Enter." Delete the highlighted entry. Continue doing this until the Registry Editor finds no further entries that include that name.

Fix the User32.Dll File

1. Try automatically updating your Windows drivers. To update the drivers, go to "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," and select "Run." Type "wupdmgr" into the "Run" box and press "Enter." Windows automatically finds available updates on the Internet and installs them to the computer. It is possible that the User32.Dll file will be replaced during this process.

2. Open the program that gave you the User32.Dll error message to see if the problem is gone. If the error message appears again, you must reinstall the program, along with other programs that rely on the driver.

3. Go to the "Start" menu and navigate back to "Run." Enter "cmd" in the "Run" box and press "Enter" to bring up the command prompt. Type "tasklist /m User32.dll" at the prompt and press "Enter." A list of all programs using the User32.Dll file displays on the screen. Note all of these programs. Programs that are the usual culprits are email applications, like Outlook, and Internet applications, like Internet Explorer.

4. Open the "Start" menu again, go to the Control Panel, and click the "Add/Remove Programs" or "Uninstall a Program" option in the list. Scroll to the program name that you want to uninstall in the program list and right-click on the program name. Select "Uninstall," confirm the action if prompted and the program is removed.

5. Restart the computer between every program removal and try to open one of the other programs that uses the User32.Dll file. If the programs open, you don't need to uninstall any further programs. Once you have found the culprit, you can reinstall all of the programs by downloading them online or using the installation CD that you originally used to install the programs.

References

• Microsoft: Remove a Computer Virus
• Microsoft: How to Correct Common User32.Dll File Errors

Resources

• cNet: Antivirus Software