RUNDLL error message

[aob]

Using XP. Deleted some spyware and removed some progams using add/remove.

Now, each time I bootup, I get the following error message:

RUNDLL
Error loading C:\Program~1\Mywebs~1\bar\1.bin\MWSBAR.DLL

The specified module could not be found.



I click OK and the computer seems to be working well. What is this error message and how do I resolve it?

[Steve R Jones]

Click on Start->Run and type MSCONFIG
Look in the startup tab for any reference to MYWebs and uncheck it if found.

[aob]

Took a look at the Startup tab and did not see any referencing Mywebs. There were only 7 without check marks, and only five of those which could possibly be applicable. I could try putting a check mark beside each one, one at a time, to see if that works, but do not think it will.

Better still, I will put a check mark next to all 7 and then reboot to see what happens. I can then either remove all 7, if the error message is still there, or one at a time, if the error message goes away.

[aob]

Steve:

I put a check mark next to all 7 and the error message went away. NOw, I will just remove them 1 or 2 at a time until I can narrow it down to the applicable one. Thanks.

[Welshjim]

aob--Among other articles, http://www.file.net/process/mwsbar.dll.html says MWSBAR.DLL is part of MyWebSearch spyware.
You may want to use this procedure
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=167915

[aob]

Jim:

I do not understand. I used Spyware Bot to find delete spyware from three home computers. (Of course I now have the problem with all three computers.) Are you telling me that the removal of spyware caused the problem? That does not make sense.

[SuperSparks]

It does make sense - the removal of the malware has deleted the files, but has left an entry pointing to one of them in one of the startup locations, which is why Windows is now complaining that it can't find the file on each boot.

[aob]

Now that it makes sense, how do I get this spyware back to close the loop or remove any references to the missing piece.

[SuperSparks]

Well as long as unchecking the entry in Msconfig has solved the problem, that's really all you need to do. Otherwise you have to hunt the entry down and manually delete it. The places to look for startup items other than Msconfig>Startup are:

1) Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder

2) Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder

And in the Registry at:

3) HK_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

4) HK_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

5)HK_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

6) HK_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

[lgbpop]

I did some digging as soon as I saw SpywareBot, the name rang a bell; it's known for finding false positives to justify installing it. It's considered rogueware. Majorgeeks had this to say about it, and this was one of the nicer remarks. Googling the name found that the first 30 entries were all companies related to the product.

[aob]

That's surprising, since Consumer Reports gave it such a good rating. (At least it was free.) I still have to undo the problem of the missing spyware. Are Registry fixers any good?

[Welshjim]

aob--You may be thinking about SpybotS&D, not SpywareBot.
Registry fixers should be used only with great caution and if you know exactly what you are doing. They will not delete spyware, but might find an orphan file.
Some people recommend CCleaner.
http://www.ccleaner.com/
I do not use it.
You might still consider the procedure here
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=167915
If you had one baddie, you may have others.

[lgbpop]

As Welshjim noted above, you may be confusing it with Spybot S&D:

SpywareBot......exploits name "Spybot Search & Destroy"; same app as AdwareAlert [A: 5-14-06 / U: 5-14-06]

(from Spyware Warrior)

You can often take Consumer Reports' results and find out that they're not very accurate.

[x71s8zTN]

Consumer Report refers to Sbybot S & D

[SuperSparks]

This says it all about how much Consumer Reports testing is worth:

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=210137