# rundll32.exe **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2002, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954 "2002-09-11T11:56:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/1 "2002-09-11T11:56:40Z")
somehow rundll32.exe managed to find its way off my computer :eek: i have no idea how it happened, i dont remember deleting it, its not in my trash can… what in god’s green pastures could have happened to it? 😕 so now a lot of files/programs/whatever on my computer aren’t working b/c this elusive rundll32.exe business is gone. 1.) what the hell is it? 2.) how do i get it back??? -helpless in seatlle (err–los angeles, actually) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/2 "2002-09-11T12:03:12Z")
What kind of operating system are you using? You may be able to download a replacement file. For example, [this website](http://www.neil.parkwaycc.co.uk/win95/) has rundll32.exe for Windows 95 (I do not know if this file is O/S-specific, but I would not take the chance). Note: that’s not a Microsoft website so download the file at your own risk. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/3 "2002-09-11T12:08:40Z")
Oh … as to “what does it do?”, I can only offer a semi-educated WAG - rundll32 is a program that Windows uses to load and run most of the functions that are contained in the DLLs. > [@](#): > > …a **dynamic link library (DLL)** is a collection of small programs, any of which can be called when needed by a larger program that is running in the computer. The small program that lets the larger program communicate with a specific device such as a printer or scanner is often packaged as a DLL program (usually referred to as a DLL file). DLL files that support specific device operation are known as device drivers. > > The advantage of DLL files is that, because they don’t get loaded into random access memory (RAM) together with the main program, space is saved in RAM. When and if a DLL file is needed, then it is loaded and run. For example, as long as a user of Microsoft Word is editing a document, the printer DLL file does not need to be loaded into RAM. If the user decides to print the document, then the Word application causes the printer DLL file to be loaded and run. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/4 "2002-09-11T13:12:08Z")
You can recover it from your CAB files in your installation disk using the EXTRACT command. Run EXTRACT and it will give you the parameters you need to use. You should also use SFC (system file checker) to make sure everything else is OK. ---
**Author:** ![scotth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@scotth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/5 "2002-09-11T13:13:21Z")
rundll32 missing is often a symptom of a virus or worm on your machine. rundll32.exe is used to allow a dll to be run as a standalone program. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/6 "2002-09-11T15:28:06Z")
The Sircam virus renames rundll32.exe to Run32.exe. Try searching for that name. It won’t do you any good to rename it if you still have the virus. If you find the file named like that, [download the removal toold](http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.removal.tool.html) and run in safe mode while disconnected for the Internet or network. Print out the page as well as I have found the removal tool doesn’t clean up the registry like it should and there are manual removal instructions you can follow to check that it’s completely gone. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/7 "2002-09-11T15:49:55Z")
If you use w98 just put SFC in the run box, then it checks your system files & puts them back. Pretty neat. SFC= system file checker ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/8 "2002-09-11T19:54:44Z")
well thanx, you’ve all been a kind bunch helping me out w/ my pc problems and all… crusoe and handy, i’m using winxp. horseflesh, i don’t have run32.exe on my computer either. hmmm… i’m stumped again 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/9 "2002-09-11T20:30:47Z")
Actually, **Handy’s** on the right track :eek:, it’s just that the syntax for SFC has changed slightly for WinXP. Try typing: ```auto SFC /SCANNOW ``` in the run box and then follow the instructions. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2002, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/10 "2002-09-11T23:17:13Z")
Wow Hodge, I didn’t know it was part of XP. Someone told me XP does it (runs SFC) automatically when you start but I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rundll32-exe/127954/11 "2002-09-12T02:06:08Z")
i ran sfc and nothing happened. i think my computer is dead ☹