UCER32.DLL on new Windows XP install

SteveMurphy@roi.cc · May 27, 2008

Because of a hard disk crash, I had to reinstall Windows XP Pro SP2 onto a Dell Optiplex GX260. After a complete format and a successful install of Windows XP, when I try to launch third-party setup programs (e.g. Dell drivers, Microsoft Office) and other programs I get the following message "The application has failed to start because UCER32.DLL was not found". I replaced the memory, changed hard disks, and used a different Dell reinstallation CD --- same behavior.

Should I pursue this as a malware issue?

TimW · May 27, 2008

Welcome to Major Geeks!

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SteveMurphy@roi.cc · May 27, 2008

Tim,

After the fresh install of Windows XP Pro, I can launch all Windows programs, e.g. Notepad, Wordpad, Explorer, etc. But I can launch no other non-Windows programs including SuperAntispyware. When attempting to launch SuperAntispyware, I get the attached error.

I then went on to try to launch the other downloaded programs and got similar errors.

Since I have swapped out memory, the hard drive, and the Windows installation CD, where could this malware be hiding?

-steve-

TimW · May 27, 2008

Go to Bitscan link: agree to the license and then select Scan. DO NOT CHANGE THE OPTIONS TO SHOW ALL FILES SCANNED. That will make your logs huge and we don't need to see clean files. Once Bitdefender completes the scan:

Click-on the Detected Problems tab. Then select Click here to export the scan report

When the window comes up to save the report, change the Save as type: box to Text (Tab Delimited) (*.txt) and then in the File name box enter change to bdscan then click save. This will save a file named bdscan.txt in whatever folder you are currently in when you save the file (take notice of where you are at so you can find it later). This bdcan.txt file will actually contain HTML code that we can easily view later while reviewing your log. All we have to do is rename the file to bdscan.html.

SteveMurphy@roi.cc · May 27, 2008

Tim,

It's resolved, but in a very unexpected way. I won't bore you with the details, I'll just give the bottom line:

- Windows XP Pro was successfully installed from the Dell reinstallation CD.

- When I tried to install the Dell Optiplex drivers from the same CD drive, I received the error "The application has failed to start because UCER32.DLL was not found".

- When I went to install Office XP from the same CD drive, I received the same error message in question.

- Without a NIC driver, I had to download SuperAntispyware, etc. onto another PC, burn a CD, and try to install from that same CD drive. When I did, I received the same error message.

- Then I brought the Dell drivers over on a thumb drive, they worked fine.

- The I brought SuperAntispyware, etc. over on a thmb drive, they worked fine.

- Then I installed Office XP from a shared CD across the network. It worked fine.

So the bottom line is that even though the CD worked absolutely fine for the Windows XP install, it caused erratic errors on everything subsequent.

So the case is solved. The good news is that I found "you guys". Thanks for the support. I'll be back.

-steve-

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UCER32.DLL on new Windows XP install

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TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

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TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

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