# What file is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 1, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033 "2004-06-01T07:28:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/1 "2004-06-01T07:28:47Z")
On my computer, when Windows starts, (when it comes to my desktop screen, I mean), I get this message: Cannot find C://Windows/Download Program Files/bridge.dll What is this, and is it something important? (I’m wondering if it may have been purged when I ran my weekly full on virus scan, or Adaware?) ---
**Author:** ![Necro\_Romancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Necro\_Romancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necro_Romancer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/2 "2004-06-01T07:37:23Z")
Yes, it’s used by an adware program called WinFavorites. If you want the missing file, you can get it [here](http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?bridge). If you want to get rid of the message and fix the problem, go [here](http://computercops.biz/postt14722.html). Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Necro\_Romancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Necro\_Romancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necro_Romancer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/3 "2004-06-01T07:50:32Z")
[This](http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html) might also be applicable. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/4 "2004-06-01T08:00:24Z")
Thanks, I appreciate it! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/5 "2004-06-01T19:00:53Z")
Okay, I looked at the removal instructions-I don’t have Symantec or “Hijack this”. What to do? I don’t want to have to download anymore programs on my computer just to get rid of spyware! ---
**Author:** ![critter42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@critter42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/critter42)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/6 "2004-06-01T19:13:17Z")
I’m sure there are manual removal instructions somewhere, but with the high prevalance of spyware, malware, adware, drive-by installers, etc, a spyware scanner (spybot s&d available at [security.kolla.de](http://security.kolla.de) or ad-aware available at [www.lavasoft.de](http://www.lavasoft.de), preferrably both) is pretty much required nowadays on Windows machines. I understand that you have reasons for not wanting to; however, there’s every reason to believe that without one you will eventually be hit with some kind of foistware in the future. critter42 ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/7 "2004-06-02T00:54:46Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What to do? I don’t want to have to download anymore programs on my computer just to get rid of spyware! Yeah, removing it manually would be a lot less difficult than using an automated program, especially when all the spyware files are scattered around the HD or have innocous sounding names. :rolleyes: If you installed Spybot S&D(linked in the previous post), Adaware(also linked in the previous post) and a good browser: [Firefox](http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/) you would have almost no problems with Spyware in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/8 "2004-06-03T03:27:15Z")
I already have Adaware, so it’s not that I’m against putting anti-spyware software on my computer. I just don’t know how much stuff do I truly need to get rid of all this junk? (I’m just so annoyed at spyware right now). ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2004, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-file-is-this/248033/9 "2004-06-03T03:47:45Z")
The general consensus here (and my own experience) suggests that you have to have _both_ AdAware and Spybot S&D, at a minimum. They seem to catch different things.