add/remove programs crashes

I am running Windows XP on a system very well equipped to run it; 1.3 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM. I cannot remember exactly when it started, but recently I have been unable to use add/remove programs, either using the applet in the Control Panel or from the command line. I have replaced the appwiz.cpl file with a copy that I know works. I have been through the malware forum and we've done a good cleanup of the machine; there wasn't a lot on it, but it's clean anyway. I had been getting an error that said "Run a DLL as an app has encountered a problem and needs to close..."

and then when I clicked OK I would get another message like this:

An exception occurred while trying to run "C:\windows\system32\shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL "C:\windows\system32\appwiz.cpl", Add or Remove Programs"

At this point, I am only getting the first message. I sometime CAN use the program for a bit before it crashes, at other times it crashes before I can use it. I test a lot of software, I really need to be able to use this. Any ideas?

 

That can be hazardous, can't it? :hammer

Do you use CCleaner? If not, I suggest giving it a go and see whether the situation improves. Run the Windows scan and the Registry scan. When you start the registry scan, you'll be prompted to backup the registry. Do so, then proceed with the scan and tell CCleaner to fix all problems found. Repeat the scan; it may find additional items upon repeat.

 

it can be hazardous, even if you're cautious. I am, and i rarely get bitten; and when I do, I use good cleanup methods. I also know what to look for so that when I start to notice suspicious behaviour I terminte processes and such. But yes, I do use CCleaner, I have used CCleaner as part of teh most recent clean up. No avail

 

The reason it is so hazardous is mostly due to the large number of dependencies a program can have!

If one breaks, the program may (or may not) work fine until you try to access the functionality offered by said dependency.

So, I would begin looking at event logs (particularly the Application log) to try and pinpoint the cause of the failure.

Typically program crashes will log event number 1000, Application error, and will include the exact file it failed on.

If you find anything, post back with the event ID, source, and the exact error description.

 

The event in the event manager shows this:

Faulting application rundll32.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, faulting module appwiz.cpl, version 5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x00027b86.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

 

Re: add/remove programs crashes-new info

I re-imaged my drive from the Toshiba recovery disk; so it's all clean. Add Remove programs still crashes. I was uninstalling all the AOL Crapware, I got one program unloaded, and then on teh second one got the "run dll as app" error message.

How is that happening on a new install?

 

I actually had tried that before re-imaging, and after as well. There is no reason it should occur with a fresh install. I'm also getting bluescreens that I shouldn't be getting on teh first day of a new install--Page Fault in Non Paged area. The Add/Remove Programs crash also references memory addresses. I'm betting I have a bad RAM stick; hopefully it's the one I bought from Crucial a few months ago. Running memtest86+ right now. I should have taken the new stick out and tried the add/remove programs without that stick of ram in it; but I didn't think about that.