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View Full Version : cannot find system32.exe????

kwshipman
09-08-2004, 04:10 PM
Recently my computer started giving me an error every time its boots into windows. It says:

Cannot find the file 'C:\WINNT\system32\System32.exe' (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that allrequired libraries are available.
I think it started after I had a virus remeved, but I am not entirely sure.

So how do I go about fixing this? Do I need to edit the registry to just not look for this, or do I need to somehow reinstall something? I am using Win2k Pro.

Thanks (seems like all my posts are about computer problems anymore)
singularity2006
09-08-2004, 08:02 PM
I believe that is the virus file. There is still a registry entry in your startup folder that causes it to look for system32.exe, which is not a valid Windows file (at least, I don't have that particular file in my system32 folder).

Go to your start menu > run > "regedit" and browse up:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN and look for the string entry with the data value calling for "C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\SYSTEM32.EXE" and delete it. Restart your computer and that should clear up the problem. If that does not work, also do the same for these folders:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\(and the same above)
kwshipman
09-09-2004, 04:44 PM
well it wasn't in any of those locations, but I was able to find it here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINNT\CURR ENTVERSION\WINLOGIN

it was attached to the end of the shell entry like this"
Explorer.exe C:\WINNT\system32\System32.exe

I assume that I just remove everything after the explorer.exe. I did that and the error went away.
singularity2006
09-10-2004, 06:24 AM
an yes, that should do it too! Glad it went away. ::thumbsup::
kwshipman
09-10-2004, 08:56 AM
just realized that I didn't say thanks. so thanks!:D You seem to always be the one to answer my questions.
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