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JMattero
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RunDLL or sp.dll problem

Sep 5, 2012 6:14 AM

Hello:

For the last few months, whenever I restart my computer, I get the following  message:

 

"RunDLL" is in the top border of the window.

 

The body of the error message says "There was a problem starting C;\Users\MyName\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\sp.dll The specified module could not be found".

 

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium on a Dell Inspiron laptop with 4 GB memory.

 

Does anyone know how to solve this problem? I was thinking about deleting Adobe from the computer and then re-downloading it, but I am not sure if that is necessary or advisable.

 

Thanks.

 

JMattero

4721 Views   7 Replies   Latest reply: Pat Willener, Sep 5, 2012 11:14 PM
 
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  • Test Screen Name
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    1. Test Screen Name,
    Sep 5, 2012 6:30 AM   in reply to JMattero
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    I am very concerned that this might not be an Adobe file at all, but a virus or similar hiding in an Adobe folder. However...the message seems to actually say that the file sp.dll doesn't exist. That might be a good sign. Have you had an antivirus (or antispyware) fix anything at the time this started?

     

    Uninstalling Adobe Reader isn't likely to make the slightest difference, I don't think it's involved.

     
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  • JMattero
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    2. JMattero,
    Sep 5, 2012 6:46 AM   in reply to Test Screen Name
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    My Antivirus is Windows Defender which, I believe runs in the background all of the time. I have not tried running a manual scan of any type. In looking for a solution, I ran sfc /scannow from a command prompt, which scanned and reported that it did not find any problems. Any other ideas?

     
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  • Test Screen Name
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    3. Test Screen Name,
    Sep 5, 2012 6:48 AM   in reply to JMattero
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    Well, as I said it is possible that the virus is already gone. The message seems to clearly show that a file is not there - just that whatever removed the virus left this (harmless?) effect behind.

     
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  • Test Screen Name
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    4. Test Screen Name,
    Sep 5, 2012 6:49 AM   in reply to Test Screen Name
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    By the way, if you are satisified the virus is gone you can just stop whatever is trying to run it. Maybe this will work... From a run box type 'msconfig' and select the Startup Tab. You can uncheck the applications you wish to stop from loading with windows

     
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  • JMattero
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    5. JMattero,
    Sep 5, 2012 7:05 AM   in reply to Test Screen Name
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    I went back to Windows Defender, and did a quick scan, and it showed everything is normal. I then looked at the HISTORY tab of defender, and it reports that 3 Trojans were removed, win32/Alureon.FO, win64/Alureon.gen!K and win64/Alureon.gen!K . All of these were successfully removed and occurred on different dates all in early August. Does that help you diagnose anything?

     
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  • JMattero
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    6. JMattero,
    Sep 5, 2012 7:21 AM   in reply to Test Screen Name
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    I did a little more poking around using msconfig. In the startup folder is one entry that says the following (all on one line)

     

    C:\Windows\sysWOW64\rundll32.exe "C:\User\JeffMattero\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\sp.dll", Service Main

     

    I did not change the checkbox on that yet.

     

    Does that help?

     
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  • Pat Willener
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    7. Pat Willener,
    Sep 5, 2012 11:14 PM   in reply to JMattero
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    Yes, that is exactly what is causing that error popup during Windows startup.  Delete or disable it.

     
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