Most of the time, the culprit that is triggering this error is fairly easy to identify because it’s usually mentioned in the error window.
However, there are some instances where the error message does not specify which program is to blame for the error. This typically happens with errors triggered by Windows protected folders.
What is RunDLL?
RunDLL is the Windows file responsible for loading and executing DLL (Dynamic Link Library) modules. All DLL modules work closely with the Windows Registry with the common goal of enhancing the response speed and memory management. However, there are cases where the RunDLL file is instructed by a scheduled task to run a certain DLL file but it doesn’t manage to find the module that is required. Whenever this happens, Windows will automatically trigger a RunDLL error. This will happen either because the users deleted the application that used that particular DLL manually (without using the uninstaller) or because a security solution has detected an infection related to the application that uses the called DLL and has taken action against it. If you’re currently struggling with a RunDLL error, we have a few methods that will help. Below you have a collection of fixes that other users have successfully used to resolve a RunDLL error. The following methods are ordered by accessibility, so please follow them in order until you come upon a fix that resolves the problem in your particular scenario.
Method 1: Scan your system with Malwarebytes
We’ll start with the most accessible solutions. Malwarebytes is a malware remover that is oftentimes more efficient in eliminating every threat associated with the main malicious executable. Some users have reported that Malwarebytes was successful at finding and removing registry keys and scheduled tasks belonging to viruses that were already removed by other security suites. This serves our purpose since RunDLL errors are mostly caused by leftover malicious files. See whether the issue is automatically resolved after you perform a thorough scan with Malwarebytes. To do this, install Malwarebytes, run a full scan and restart your system at the end of it. If a Malwarebytes didn’t remove the RunDLL error at startup, move over to Method 2.
Method 2: Removing the startup entry with Autoruns
If Malwarebytes wasn’t able to resolve the problem, there’s one other piece of software that will allow us to remove the scheduled task that is triggering the RunDLL error fairly easily. Autoruns can be used to remove run once, run, registry keys and startup folders. It’s extremely helpful in our case since we can use it to remove the registry key or scheduled task that is triggering the RunDLL error. Follow the guide below to install and use Autoruns to install the startup RunDll error: If you’re still encountering the RunDLL startup error, move over to the final method where we do things manually.
Method 3: Manually removing the startup RunDLL error
If the first two methods have failed you, you have little choice but to do things manually via msconfig. But don’t worry as the steps are not too technical. We are going to start by removing every registry entry via Registry Editor. Then, we’ll open Task Scheduler and disable any scheduled task that is programmed to call for the missing DLL file. Here’s a complete guide on manually removing a startup RunDLL error manually:
Method 4: Clearing Temporary Files
In certain cases, the temporary files being stored in your App Data folder might actually be preventing the RunDLL from running properly. Therefore, in this step, we will be clearing the temporary files. In order to do that: Furthermore, you can try to perform a repair install and check if that fixes the issue that you are encountering. If that still doesn’t fix it, perform a clean install.
Fix RunDLL ‘There was a problem starting’ when Opening HDDFix: RunDLL Problem Starting sbavmon.dll - Module could not be foundFix: Windows Failed to Start Error on StartupHow to Fix ‘DifxFrontend failed!’ Startup error on Windows?
