How to Troubleshoot Rundll32 EXE Not Responding
By Ruri Ranbe
"Program Not Responding - Rundll32.exe" is not an unusual message to see if a virus has infected your computer, or if the remnants of an improperly uninstalled software still remain on your drive. This error most commonly appears when attempting to restart or shut down the computer. To work around this error, you must temporarily disable the service or program using rundll32.exe, then run utility software to repair the issue.
Step 1
Click "Start," then "Run," or click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," then "Run," depending on your operating system. Type "msconfig" into the dialogue box, then hit "Enter" to launch System Configuration.
Step 2
Select the "Startup" tab. Expand the "Command" field and search for "rundll32.exe."
Step 3
Uncheck the box next to any startup item in the list containing "rundll32.exe" in its Command field.
Step 4
Click "OK." Press "Esc," "Shift" and "Ctrl" simultaneously. Select the "Processes" tab when Windows Task Manager appears.
Step 5
Click the "Description" tab, then search for a process with the same name as the startup item you disabled previously.
Step 6
Right-click the item, then select "End Process." Click "End Process" again. Restart your computer.
Step 7
Press "F8" before the OS startup screen appears, then select "Safe Mode" from the list of options. Hit "Enter" to enter Windows Safe Mode.
Step 8
Run your antivirus and a registry repair software to remove any viruses, malware or registry errors from your PC. Restart your computer.
Step 9
Relaunch System Configuration. Check the box next to all of the startup items you disabled. Click "OK" and restart your computer.
References
Warnings
- Disabling startup items can cause system instability. Do not make any changes to your system without first backing up your system settings.
- Do not delete or disable any Windows processes. Enter the name of the startup item in a search engine, if necessary, to confirm that the file is not a Windows process.
Writer Bio
Ruri Ranbe has been working as a writer since 2008. She received an A.A. in English literature from Valencia College and is completing a B.S. in computer science at the University of Central Florida. Ranbe also has more than six years of professional information-technology experience, specializing in computer architecture, operating systems, networking, server administration, virtualization and Web design.