Please help with a Vista runtime error! I've tried lots of troubleshooting already...

Problem
I've been running 32-bit Vista on my XPS M1530 for a while with no problems at all but then all of a sudden one day I started getting runtime errors when I first start my computer. I didn't install anything around the timeframe when the errors started. However, the first time I saw it I did notice a windows update if that matters at all.

Errors
When I first turn on my computer, I get this error:
Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library
Runtime error!
Program C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe

If I click ok, the window closes and I can choose my username. After I do that, as my computer starts up, I get the error 5 more times.


Also, when I rightclick my desktop, I get this error:

Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library
Runtime Error!
Program: C:\Windows\explorer.exe

In addition to these errors, Vista has been really unstable (programs crashing) when I've never had any problems before.

Troubleshooting
1) First I tried scanning my registry with CCleaner to see if any problems existed, did not find any problems
2) Did a msconfig and disabled all startup programs, error persisted.
3) Uninstalled Microsoft Visual C++ and installed a fresh copy from MS website, error persists
4) Tried repairing Vista by booting from install disk, startup repair utility couldn't find any problems
5) Tried a system restore at a point about a week before the error persisted. All the restore points were either normal backups or due to windows update. Error still persisted.

My computer is also up to date on updates and I ran a full virus scan with AVG and did not find anything doing that either.

PLEASE help since I've been going out of my mind trying to find solutions. Reps for ANY ideas. Vista is being so unstable and everything keeps crashing on me. Today, it wouldn't even boot until I booted into safe mode (no problems) and then restarted from safe mode.

 

Have you run any tests on memory/HDD to verify that it isn't a hardware problem? I see you've done mostly software solutions at this point.
Do you get the errors if you start up in safe mode?

 

The consensus of opinion is that these types of runtime library errors occur at some point in time after installing some kind of third party software or application – oftentimes it’s a delayed occurrence, so you need to check back a fair amount of time to see what programs or apps you installed prior to your first error event.

When the next error event occurs, immediately check the related information in your Problem Reports and Solutions. Did the error message give you an error code? Go to: Control Panel, Problem Reports and Solutions. Also, under Problem History, you may find more detailed information about the crash that can help identify the problem. Additionally check your Event Viewer. Hopefully these sources will give you some information as to the specific root cause of the problem. If the problem is, in fact, related to third party software/apps, you may have to go to that manufacturer for a patch or fix.

Here is a typical synopsis on Microsoft visual c++ runtime library errors from Articlebase ( http://www.articlesbase.com/data-re...r-message-tip-to-repair-it-now--963402.html): “…It is important that you find out the root of these problems. In a lot of cases like this, the problem lies with your windows registry - this is the spot where windows looks at all your pc activity. It keeps all records of all the software and hardware installations you've performed, and the links to the files that allow them to function. Quite often, a fragmented link or corrupted registry can be the source of a Microsoft visual c++ runtime library error message and a large number of other problems, including your computer becoming unresponsive or freezing and .dll errors.
Some of the other causes of runtime errors include the incorrect loading or unloading of software, conflicts between several programs (when you have a lot of applications installed on your pc), problems with pc viruses and spyware, and on and on. Any of these can be the cause of lost or damaged links in your windows registry, and consequently can cause windows to display all of those annoying error messages at the very least.”

There's a bit of help from Microsoft -- you can start with these 2 articles:

Windows Vista Solution Center - http://support.microsoft.com/ph/11732#tab0

Microsoft Support - "Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library Runtime Error" error message after you install Office XP or an Office XP program - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307817 (I know you are running Vista, but I didn't see any related article for Vista, and this one may offer some guidance.)

 

Nope, no errors in booting into safe mode so I pretty much skipped hardware issues.

I'll try some of the ideas in this thread and report back if I get anywhere. Thanks for the input so far guys.

 

start > Run, type

msconfig
ENTER

go to STARTUP tab, click the DISABLE ALL button.

Reboot.

Does the error recur? If not, go back into MSCONFIG and add one program back at a time by checking a box and rebooting until the error does reoccur.

the report back as to which item check caused the error to return

 

That the 2nd troubleshooting idea I tried and it still happened with everything disabled.

 

uninstall ALL toolbars from CONTROL PANEL > PROGRAMS AND FEATURES

 

By any chance have you installed or upgraded AdAware recently?

 

Toolbar thing didn't help and I haven't installed AdAware.

So at this point, I'm about to just format my computer and do a fresh install of Vista. However, I really don't want to do this because of all the tweaks and programs I've got to re-install. Any more last minute ideas before I go down this road?

 

Have you reviewed this thread?

http://www.anetforums.com/posts.aspx?ThreadIndex=59673

The culprit was ActiveX. See if that thread helps you.

 

barring that program that I never heard of, download autoruns and uncheck everything under the browser helper objects section

 

Hmm that thread looked VERY promising. Tried running BHO captor and disabled everything there. Uninstalled flash/activeX and did a regedit to delete any entries there. Restarted and got the problem again.

Tried uninstalling Java and did a regedit for that as well and STILL getting the problem. This is a tough one.

 

Troubleshooting
1) First I tried scanning my registry with CCleaner to see if any problems existed, did not find any problems
2) Did a msconfig and disabled all startup programs, error persisted.
3) Uninstalled Microsoft Visual C++ and installed a fresh copy from MS website, error persists
4) Tried repairing Vista by booting from install disk, startup repair utility couldn't find any problems
5) Tried a system restore at a point about a week before the error persisted. All the restore points were either normal backups or due to windows update. Error still persisted.

NEW TROUBLESHOOTING:
6) Installed BHO Captor It found the following:
C:\program files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
C:\program files\microsoft office\office12\grooveshellextensions.dll
C:\program files\java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
Disabled all of those. Problem still existed.

7) Uninstalled Flash/ActiveX, went into IE (which I never use) and uninstalled the flash plugin there. Regedit to delete any traces. Error persists.

8) Uninstalled Java, regedit to delete any traces. Error persists

9) Uninstalled AVG, error persists.

10) Installed autoruns, but not sure what you are referring to when you say "browser helper objects". There is an internet explorer tab and I unchecked what is in there.

 

I ran MalwareBytes and found this:

Files Infected:
C:\Windows\system\rundll32.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

However, afterwards I restarted and still had the problem. I then deleted the rundll32.exe and replaced it with another copy from another computer and still get the error. However, if I run malwarebytes again, it says no infected files. Any ideas?

 

Under the IE tab, you should see something like

HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node(this may say something else)\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Browser Helper Objects

OK, let's try this...

download and run rootkitrevealer (google)

Start it and walk away -- do not operate your computer while it is running==makes for a messy log.

Save and attach the log.

If you would like, save a log from autoruns and attach it, too.

 

While running rootkitrevelaer, I get the same rundll32.exe errors that I get when I start up my computer. The scan finished but when I try to save the log it won't let me. On top of that, there is something like 36,000 entries. Is there something I should look for?

 

36,000 entriew...36,000??????

Did you start it and WALK AWAY AND NOT USE YOUR COMPUTER as I noted?

If you use your computer while it is running, rootkit revealer will find differences between your computer and registry because the simple act of opening notepad will create 100s of changes.

Did you attach the AUTORUNS log? (well, no. you didn't--please do)

 

start > run, type
regedit
ENTER

navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\explorer

anything on the right?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\explorer
anything on the right?

 

Sorry for not updating, been busy. I broke down today and decided to just do a clean install. Thanks for all the ideas though.