DLL errors are common for Windows operating systems and may be caused by corrupted programs, bad hardware or malware. DLL files (dynamic link library files) are a collection of files that allow executable programs to communicate with a device or contain code that allow the system to perform particular functions.  They are basically helper programs for the other programs that you are running on your computer.

VUMEFESA.DLL

This particular DLL error is most likely malware that was added into the registry as an auto-start so that it will load on boot up. It looks like it was attached to part of the registry that holds information for shortcuts and when it is infected by adware such as this, it can rewrite your shortcuts which is probably why it is coming up when XP is loaded. The registry stores Windows operating system setting and options including those for the hardware, operating system software and user settings.

Cleaning the Registry

Because this is malware, the best course of action is to scan for viruses and adware, clean the registry and then do another scan to be sure the system is clean. You want to make sure you don’t cross contaminate and reinfect your system, which is why we recommend two cleanings.

If you are not currently using a good antivirus program (and you should be), you can check on our site for some reviews and options. If you do have one on your system, make sure you have any updates installed and then do a complete scan. Once that is done, a registry cleaner such as RegCure can clean out your registry errors. After that, do another virus scan just to make sure that nothing got duplicated and dumped back on your system.

Once you’ve followed those steps, the DLL error should disappear. There are ways to get into the registry and do it manually, but I don’t recommend it, unless you are a tech pro, as changing the registry incorrectly can wreak havoc on your system.

Booting Past a Startup Error

If you aren’t having any luck booting into Safe Mode, then booting from your Windows operating system disk is likely your only option. You will, however, need to have a Windows boot disk for almost anything at this point. Before we go on, some users with this problem report being able to boot into Safe Mode with a command prompt after several tries, so if a boot disk isn’t readily available, you could try booting a few times to see if you can get on that way.

Use Recovery Console from Boot Disk

In any case, you need to get some control over your system and, if normal and safe boot procedures aren’t working, there are boot disk options. First, you can use the Recovery Console to run some hard disk repair scans, which will hopefully take care of the problem.

1. Put the Windows CD in the drive and turn your computer off
2. Give it a minute, then boot back up - the computer should boot from the disk
3. At the Welcome to Set Up screen, press R for Recovery Console
4. Use the arrow keys to choose you installation, then Enter
5. If you are asked for an Administrator password, leave the field blank and press Enter
6. Now, at the command prompt, type in chkdsk /r - there is a space between the k and the /r.
7. The chkdsk application will launch and check your hard disk. It takes some time so be patient and let it run - it can take more than an hour and a half and go through periods where it appears stalled. Don’t interfere, let it run .
8. When the scan is complete you will be returned to the command prompt - type exit then press Enter
9. If your computer doesn’t restart automatically, shut it down and restart manually
10. I hope this boots normally to Windows

Repair your Windows Installation

If not, you can try to repair your operating system installation in a similar procedure.

1. Put the CD in the drive and reboot the computer - it will start from disk
2. At Welcome Screen press Enter to Set Up Windows
3. Accept the license
4. Choose the operating system using the arrow keys on your keyboard, then press R to launch the repair. This will keep all your files and folders in place and only reinstall the Windows programs that might be corrupted
5. Let it run, don’t press any key to boot from CD even if you are offered
6. Once its finished, reboot and I hope you are back up and running
7. Now, it is VERY important that you reapply all your Windows and security patches, updates and applications

I hope this does it! If not, write us again and tell us the operating system you are using and as many details as you can about the problem and what you’ve tried. Good luck!

What is the FermataU.dll File?

The FermataU.dll file seems to be associated with a few imaging applications including HP printers, Walmart photo applications, and other photography programs. Problems with this particular file seem to occur when photos are being transferred from one media source to another. It sounds as though you might be using Image Zone Express, photo software put out by Hewlett-Packard. This software includes the FermataU.dll file.

Unfortunately, the possibility that the FermataU.dll file on your computer is a form of malware does exist. Therefore, you need to run a scan for malware before continuing on with any of the suggestions here. Before you run your anti-spyware/anti-virus application, make sure that you update it first so that it includes all of the current listings. If you do not have an anti-spyware/anti-virus application, then I can recommend that you try Anti-Virus PLUS.

Replacing Missing FermataU.dll File

The best way to fix the case of a missing FermataU.dll file is to uninstall and reinstall the software that is attempting to use the file. Therefore, you need to identify the application that you are trying to use to view the photos. Once you have done that, then you need to locate the software for the program so that you can reinstall it. If you don’t have the software disk handy, then you can check on the manufacturer’s website to see if a download of the software is available.

If you aren’t sure which application you are using that is missing the file, check to see what program you are using when you try to transfer the photos from your disk to your computer. Alternatively, you can also look in your list of programs and see if HP’s Image Zone Express is listed. If it is, I would suggest finding your disk for it and reinstalling the software. If you can’t find the disk, then uninstall your version of Image Zone Express and visit this link to download a free version of the newest application: HP’s Image Zone Express.

Repairing Missing FermataU.dll File: Registry Cleaner

You can also try using a registry cleaner to repair missing and broken files on the computer. Sometimes, files go missing due to improper shutdowns, computer crashes, viruses, and more. Using a registry cleaner puts all of these files back together in the right place too. I can recommend the following program for you to try: RegCure.

I know what the problem is - now we just have to try to find the best solution for you. The kernel32.dll file handles memory management input/output operators and interrupts. When Windows starts, this DLL file is loaded into a protected memory space so that other programs don’t take that space over. The error occurs when a program is trying to access this protected memory space. Many things can cause this problem, from one damaged program to damaged hardware such as bad memory modules or device drivers.  It can also be caused by all kinds of malware.

As you can see, the error doesn’t really originate with the kernel32.dll but with whatever program is causing the error to that file. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any information about the Ordinal 2556 or the program that is initiating the error.

New Devices or Drivers

Have you changed any programs recently? Downloaded any new device drivers or installed any new hardware or software? The best thing to do is to see what has changed leading up to this error appearing. If you have installed something new, trying to remove it may stop this DLL error from occurring.

System Restore in Safe Mode

I’m not sure how far you can access the system, but if you can get into Safe Mode by starting the computer and immediately pressing F8 (or F1 or F2 depending on your computer) you can try to do a System Restore. If you can get into Safe Mode, type in: %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe. This will start Safe Mode, and you will be able to roll your computer back to a time before this DLL error started appearing.

Repair from CD

If you can’t even get into Safe Mode, you may have to use the CD that came with your operating system to do a full recover. You put the Windows CD into the drive, boot from that and press R to repair the system from the CD. When you get to the command prompt, type in: copy d:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy d:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\

This DLL error is a tough one, but hopefully, one of these solutions will work for you. If you need more help, please let us know.

What you’ve got here is a DLL error, specifically a RegUtils.dll error. DLL files stand for Dynamic Link Library files which are a collection of programs that are used by an executable program that is running. It is fairly common to have DLL errors when you are trying to install a program like Java. You probably have a partial download of the program on your computer which is compounding the problem.

Windows Uninstaller Cleanup Utility

The best solution for this is to uninstall any Java programs you have lurking on your machine, use the Windows Uninstaller Cleanup Utility and then go back and reinstall a good version of Java. The Windows Cleanup Utility won’t remove the programs themselves, but they will remove the uninstallers for these programs ensuring that you start with a clean slate.

First, go to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall any Java files that you can find. Next, download and run the Cleanup Utility to remove any traces of the installer files. Once that is complete, you can go to the Java website and download the newest version of the program for the operating system that you are using. If you think that you are having a problem with your computer timing out or an Internet connection issue, you can download Java to your desktop and install it from there. Just go to the Java website and click on the manual download. Once you have downloaded a clean version of Java, you should be able to play your games no problem.

Registry Cleaners

If you get these kinds of DLL errors regularly, you might want to look into a program such as Regcure. You can do a free download of the program and see what it finds before you decide whether to purchase the full version.

I think doing a complete clean up of the old partial installation using the Cleanup Utility and reinstalling a new version should clear your computer of this DLL error.

What you’ve got here is called a .dll error. DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library files, and they basically contain functions that can be called in from other executable code. They plug into other programs when it needs the features that come with the .dll file.

Blue Screen DLL Error

This particular DLL error means that you need to update the video driver on your computer in order to run the program. It is a common error when you download a computer game, and I see it a lot with Sims. Basically, the existing drivers in your computer are conflicting with something in the Sims 3 program.

Update the Video Driver

If you can access the computer in normal mode, you can get into Device Manager and update the video drivers from the manufacturer’s website. If you can only get in using Safe Mode (press F8 when you start up the machine), you can still access the drivers. Safe Mode will start the machine without the video driver that you need in Normal Mode.  In Safe Mode, open the Display Properties and choose Settings and then Advanced. Click on Adapter and then choose Properties and then Driver. You can uninstall the old driver if you want, but make sure you don’t do it before you’ve found the new one - you will have problems with the screen if you remove the driver first.

System Restore

Because you just got the Sims 3 yesterday, you can also try to do a System Restore in Safe Mode, then download the updated driver and then install the Sims 3 game again. To do this, get into Safe Mode and at the prompt, type in: %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe. Follow the prompts to set a date to restore to - pick a date that is close to yesterday - and then let the system run. You shouldn’t lose any of your data doing this system restore.

Once you’ve updated your video drivers, the game should run just fine without any conflicts.

What is the system 32.hal file error?

The system 32.hal file error can occur due to an infection by a computer virus as well as during an upgrade of the operating system. When it occurs, the functioning of the computer ceases since this file is necessary in order for Windows to function properly. Hal stands for “hardware abstraction layer,” a pretty impressive phrase.

Reinstalling system32.hal: Installation Disk

If you have the installation disk that came with your computer, you can use it to reinstall the system32.hal file. You simply need to insert the disk into the computer, turn it on and select the proper option to boot your computer from the CD. Then you can follow the prompts (select “r”) in order to select repair the operating system. If you are prompted for the administrator password, type it in. If you don’t have one, then pressing the “enter” key generally works.

Reinstalling system32.hal: Secondary Computer with Windows XP Pro

This next strategy is a bit tricky, so you should back up the system and all files first. If you don’t have access to a recovery CD, you can try to purchase one from the manufacturer of the computer. Alternatively, you can uninstall the hard drive from the problematic computer (provided it is virus free) and install it on another computer that is using the same operating system. You will have to set it up as the “slave” drive.

Once the hard drive is installed, you need to boot up, enable “Explorer\tools\folder options.” Next, display the contents of the system folders and allow hidden files and folders to show. You’ll need to uncheck the “Hide protected OS files.” Locate the hal.dll by searching for all or part of the file name. Copy the file to the slave hard drive. Undo any changes that you made to the computer’s OS. Remove the hard drive and replace it in the original computer. Hopefully it will allow the computer to boot up, but remember to set it as Master.

Replace the Boot.ini File

In some cases, a missing boot.ini file is the real culprit behind the missing system32hal error message. If nothing else has worked, you can try replacing the boot.ini file. For instructions on this file, refer to this document from Microsoft: Support Microsoft 289022.

Replace Windows OS with a Clean Installation

Although replacing your operating system with a clean installation will cause you to lose your documents, files, etc, performing a clean installation often resolves hal.dll errors. If you go this route and the problem still exists, you might want to consider replacing the hard drive.

I haven’t been able to find any information on the particular missing DLL that you have listed, appdatalocaltempgeBqPHaW.dll. At any rate, I am going to provide you with several suggestions that should help you with this situation. Try each one until you get the missing DLL problem resolved.

Troubleshooting Missing DLL on Startup: Safe Mode

Booting your computer up into “Safe Mode” uses the fewest resources and applications so it is often easier to get a computer started when a problem exists. In fact, it might resolve the DLL error with little effort. To do startup the computer in “Safe Mode”, follow these steps:

• Turn the computer on.
• Immediately begin to press the “F8″ key on the keyboard.
• Use the arrow keys to navigate to this option: “Last known good configuration.”
• Select the “Enter” key.

In addition, running a System Restore and choosing a restore point prior to the DLL error may do the trick for you. Here’s a Filetonic article on using System Restore.

Troubleshooting Missing DLL on Startup: Clean the Registry

If you get the computer to boot up, you should use a registry cleaner to get your system back in order. Registry cleaners replace missing and broken files so this sounds as though it will be of use to you. I can recommend the following product for you: RegCure. Hopefully, it will fix the missing DLL problem so that it does not occur again.

Troubleshooting Missing DLL on Startup: Software

If you received the DLL message after installing new software, consider removing the software from the computer as it might have triggered the message. Obviously, you will need to get the computer started before you can do this so make sure you follow the direction for booting up in “Safe Mode.”

Troubleshooting Missing DLL on Startup: Scan for Spyware and Viruses

You should run an anti-spyware/anti-virus application on the computer in case it has been infected with malware. Spyware and/or viruses can account for this type of error. I can recommend that you use the following application: Anti-VirusPLUS.

Troubleshooting Missing DLL on Startup: Repair Installation

If you have the installation disk for the computer, you can use it to create a repair installation. While this might change some of your settings or require that you reinstall any existing updates, it will not cause you to lose any of your existing documents or files. Just insert the disk and follow the prompts.

Windows Error Message or Adware Popup?

Hmm, this is interesting. I think that your pop up might actually be a Windows error message. When people complain about pop ups, they are generally referring to unsolicited advertisements and link to websites that are often the result of adware or spyware that has infected the system. In your case, the pop up message seems to be informing you of a problem with your operating system. If this isn’t the case, and the pop up is related to an infection, then the malware might be programmed to launch whenever the computer is turned on.

Run Full Virus and Malware Scans

Before we go any further and to prevent any further damage, you should run a full virus scan to rule out this possibility. It is important that you keep up to date antivirus software running to prevent against infection. If you have a program like Norton or McAfee installed already, open the program and then click the option to update your virus definitions. Once you have the latest definitions, run a full system scan, be patient if this takes a while, it’s important. If the scan shows any problems, follow the antivirus’ advice to deal with them. Run the scan again until the scan is clean. You should also install and run a good malware program too that specializes in adware in case this is the issue.

Remove the .DLL Entry from the Startup List

To remove the .dll code that is starting up every time the computer is turned on, you can use the Microsoft System Configuration Tool to alter the programmed start up sequence.

• Press the Start button, the click Run
• In the Search bar, type in msconfig and press Enter
• Look under the Start Up tab and see if there is a listing for oqeqecuzoz.dll
• If there is, click the box beside it to remove the check and take it off the auto start list

Use Microsoft’s System File Checker

It’s possible that the DLL error is due to a corrupt Windows file. If so, use the Windows System File Checker utility to scan your system for damaged files. When the utility finds missing or damaged files, it replaces them with clean copies from your original Windows installation CD. Go to Start>Run and type in CMD. In the Command Prompt box type in: sfc /scannow. Make sure to have your Windows disc handy.

I really hope that this is cleared up for you. If this advice doesn’t get you anywhere, write again and let us know if there are any new signs or symptoms and we can take it from there. Good luck!

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DLL Errors

DLL - Dynamic Link Library

DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library. Files within the Dynamic Link Library are more like small modules in a larger collection of computer programs. Software and hardware developers rely on DLL files for many of the more common computer functions. Rather than creating their own computer code from scratch, they use these pre-existing modules for common functions. For example, your computer already contains hundreds of DLL files. A software program calls up the necessary files rather than contains duplicate information. This makes for less redundancy between programs, thus saving your computer valuable hard drive space.

DLL Errors

However, because DLL files are shared, they are often mistakenly uninstalled or overwritten. In addition, like all files, DLL files can become corrupt and unusable. When any of these events happen, the computer stops cooperating when the file is not found.

Troubleshooting DLL Errors

Normally, when DLL errors occur, retracing your latest computer changing steps can lead to the solution. For example, if you recently uninstalled a program and you suddenly get DLL errors, reinstalling the program usually reinstalls the lost DLL. Because DLL files system files, running a System Restore is a viable solution.

In your case, since your desktop is affected, it’s a bit harder to troubleshoot. A missing desktop is usually related to a problem with the explorer.exe file. You may be able to launch that manually by pressing Control + Alt + Delete and launching the Task Manager. From there, go to File > Run (New Task). Type in: explorer.exe and then click OK. If the desktop loads, you can then run a System Restore via the Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore path.

However, if that doesn’t do the trick, you’ll need to run System Restore from the Command Prompt. First, boot up into Safe Mode with Command Prompt by pressing the F8 key as the computer starts and choosing that option with your arrow keys. Type in: %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

This will launch System Restore. Choose a restore point from before the DLL error occurred and follow the prompts to roll you system back in time. This option will only work if you have System Restore enabled on your system. It does not affect your data though you may need to reinstall recently added programs and other changes that occurred after the restore point’s date.