# HELP! Computer problem! PLEASE HELP! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032 "2003-07-17T01:38:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/1 "2003-07-17T01:38:09Z")
All of a sudden when I try to open something in my computers “control Panel” I get a messgae saying “Cannot find rundll32.exe”. Whatever that is, it must have gotten deleated. How to I get it back? I can’t open anything now. Help! ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/2 "2003-07-17T01:42:03Z")
The only suggestion I can make is to re-install Windows. Someone else will probably be along shortly with a better idea. ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/3 "2003-07-17T01:45:41Z")
> **[Solved: computer shows cannot find rundll32.exe | Experts Exchange](https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20497847/computer-shows-cannot-find-rundll32-exe.html)** > > Find answers to computer shows cannot find rundll32.exe from the expert community at Experts Exchange Watch as I emulate Q.E.D! ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/4 "2003-07-17T03:07:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NinetyWt \* > \*\*The only suggestion I can make is to re-install Windows. \*\* That seems to be the only thing that would work. But I can’t find the Windows install disc!:eek: :mad: Now what??? ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/5 "2003-07-17T03:24:35Z")
For starters, you could tell us what version of Windows we are trying to help you fix. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/6 "2003-07-17T03:30:03Z")
Windows 98 (second edition I think) ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/7 "2003-07-17T04:02:46Z")
Did you go to [http://housecall.antivirus.com](http://housecall.antivirus.com) and try the online virus scanner? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/8 "2003-07-17T04:03:55Z")
FWIW. [http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1048023146](http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1048023146) > [@](#): > > [Q] when i go into control panel and try to open any thing in there i get a “cannot find the file c:\windows\rundll32.exe(or one of its components)make sure the path and filename are correct and all libraries are available” message. > > [A] There’s been some Spyware active lately causing this and similar problems. Try running > SpyBot on your system. Below is also an MS troubleshooting link that may help if > SpyBot doesn’t. And he included a link to this. [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299923](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299923) Then there are these people. [http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating\_Systems/Win98/Q\_20583395.html](http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win98/Q_20583395.html) You have my deepest sympathies, PK. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/9 "2003-07-17T04:43:48Z")
Have you been engaging in any dangerous activities like downloading free music? You don’t have to answer, but I know a lot of people have had problems after doing music downloads. I have seen all kinds of “dll” error messages from windows. Older versions of windows were pretty buggy, I have the XP Pro version now and I can say it is pretty stable (finally!!!). But, getting to my point, whenever I had “dll” errors like you mention, a reboot usually fixed the problem. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/10 "2003-07-17T05:59:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pkbites \* > \*\*That seems to be the only thing that would work. > > But I can’t find the Windows install disc!:eek: :mad: > Now what??? \*\* Look on your drive for a folder called \windows\options\cabs (or something along those lines) .cab files contain all the Windows bits and pieces, and most current un-zipping utilities can work with them. Hunt down a file called WIN98\_46.cab, and rundll32.exe ought to be in ther. Extract it to C:\WINDOWS and all should be well. (Assuming it’s truly missing and/or not corrupted.) Looks like the file’s properties should indicate a creation and modification date of Friday, April 22, 1999, 10:22:00 PM. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-computer-problem-please-help/189032/11 "2003-07-17T14:48:25Z")
For w98, in the RUN box, put: SFC Run that, you should be all set, sfc=system file checker. In the future, try to give your computer specs too, thanks.