Windows 7: GOEC62-1.dll Error

Attachment 179549

The above reads:
"The application or DDL C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~1\GOEC62~1.DLL is not a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation diskette." (Have moved twice since it got this computer and have NO CLUE where that disk is???)

Running a six-year old Dell Inspriron 6000 laptop and for the past month now, keep getting this error - especially during start-up as all the JUNK programs are loaded! In order to get past each display of the error msg. I have to hit the OK button. Have tried a couple things to get rid of it, but no success. One prog. I tried was Rezooka - didn't work!



If you notice, it says the location of the dll is in C:\progra~1\Google\google~1\GOEC62-1.dll. But 'progra~1' must be a hidden directory 'cause I can't find it? There is a c:\programs files\google\google~1\.... that does contain the dll named 'GOEC62-1.dll'. I know/think there is directory called 'progra~1' there 'cause I tried to create one in under c: and was advised it already existed!

Anybody got an idea what's the problem and how to fix it?

BTW - every time I try to launch any program, I get the same pop-up error and have to just hit OK to continue?

And 'YES' I did a search here for 'GOEC62-1.dll" and was not able to locate anything - so IF this subject has been addressed, point me in the correct direction.

Said dll is connected to Google Desktop and/or Google Earth. So you should uninstall both (if present), and if so desired re-download and reinstall them.
The ominous "google~1" or "progra~1" is how long path/filenames are shown in 8.3 notation (which is a relic from DOS times . As an example if you have on your drive the directories "C:\Program Files" , "C:\Program Tools" and say "C:\Programmers Utilities" In 8.3 notation they would read as follows:
C:\progra~1
C:\progra~2
and C:\progra~3

-DG

OK, think I understand the 'ominous" part and I think you're saying that the directory on my computer named 'c:\programs files' is the same as 'C:\PROGRA~1' as far as this 8.3 thingy goes and there actually is NO so named 'C:\PROGRA~1' directory?

When this crap/error started showing up, I located the 'goec62-1.dll' file in the PROGRAM FILES directory and renamed it to 'goec62-1BK.dll' hoping IF that was the correct one the error would read CAN NOT FIND .DLL instead of bad image... but that did not happen - error msg. stayed the same! And I didn't know a .dll was a Windows image as stated in the error msg?

Now, as far as Google Desktop and Google Earth - don't believe I have them on this computer - at least they are not listed in the ADD OR REMOVE PROGRAMS area. Only think 'google' is CROME which I just added about three days ago HOPING that IF it added the .dll in question, I'd get a GOOD one!! Didn't happen. If G.Desktop is on here, could it be under something else?

I think at one time I had GoogleEarth, but removed it a couple years ago - and this error just started showing up about a month ago??

Right there is no directory with that name. It's a translation from a long name into the traditional 8.3 format. You have to think of it as a mask kind of like in "progra*"
The first name found that matches the mask would be referred to as progra~1, the second one as progra~2 and so on.
More info here : How Windows Generates 8.3 File Names from Long File Names
As for your error message: it might well be some residue. Nut in case it's more, load this, update it and run a full check:

Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a free download that removes viruses and malware from your computer

If you're (and only if you 're really) familiar with the registry, make a restore point and delete this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\AppInit_DLLs
That should get rid of the error message.

-DG

Sledge - yup, that worked; the part about deleting the problem key!! Thanks for the 'help'.

You're very welcome and I'm glad the issue is resolved
Thanks for the feedback

-DG