How to fix problem with DllHost.exe

I get the following error in Action Centre (and in the Event Viewer);
Faulting application name: DllHost.exe, version: 6.1.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bc6b7
Faulting module name: RPCRT4.dll, version: 6.1.7601.17514, time stamp: 0x4ce7ba59
Exception code: 0xc0020043
Fault offset: 0x0005cd99
Faulting process id: 0x7ac
Faulting application start time: 0x01ce073cfbb513fe
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\DllHost.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\syswow64\RPCRT4.dll
Report Id: 39f2d2cf-7330-11e2-b651-50e5494cb314
Windows Explorer freezes and restarts. Somewhere it was suggested to delete DllHost.exe and it would be created again at the next reboot, but the system will not let me do it. I get the error all the time. Sewcat7

See if you have any damaged or corrupt system files by running a system file checker scan from an elevated command prompt (option two.) If problems are found, run the scan 3 times and reboot the computer after each scan.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Hi Marsmimar, I run SFC /SCANNOW (elevated) quite regularly. However, I have never run it three times and rebooted. I will try it. Thanks sewcat 7 P.S. So far I always had result that there is no problem

Hi Marsmimar, unfortunately, there still is an error with RPCRT4.dll (faulting module). DllHost.exe Application - see above. Sewcat7

If this problem just recently started you might be able to roll back your computer to a date/time before the first occurrence using a system restore point.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

Dllhost.exe problem

Hi Marsmimar, unfortunately it is too late. I suppose I will have to learn to live with this Error message and all the other unfixable ones. Thanks for your help. Sewcat7

One other possibility that may solve the problems is a Repair Install. It will attempt to fix your currently installed Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, system drivers, etc. The repair takes about an hour and you'd have to reinstall Windows Updates (about another hour or so.)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Or you could use this opportunity to clean install everything. It looks like you may have a custom build so the first tutorial should help. But if you have a manufactured machine, the second tutorial (written by one of the Forum experts) would be better.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Hi Marsmimar, I have been thinking about the reinstall, but I do not think that I feel confident to do it (I read all the information on reinstalling). I have a custom built computer, but they installed Win 7, 64 bit for me and gave me an OEM disk. As far as my problem is concerned, I now get the message: Com Surrogate not working, in the Action Centre Graph. My Explorer is constantly stopping and the Event Viewer still has dllhost.exe malfunctioning. As I believe that the cause could be an embroidery programme, I think that even a reinstall might not work. I ran sfc \SCANNOW again, but there is still no problem. Thanks for helping. Sewcat7

My understanding is that DllHost.exe should only be located in C:\Windows\System32. If it is any place else it is probably a infection. Having a problem with RPCRT4.dll I would if it was my computer be wondering if a infection is part of the problem. Something maybe has remote access to your computer that you don't know about. Like a rootkit or botnet.

rpcrt4.dll is the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) API, used by Windows applications for network and Internet communication.

Check and see where DLLHost.exe is located.
Do you have all your Windows 7 updates including SP-1 installed?

Dllhost.exe

Hi Layback Bear, I am using Malwarbytes, Windows Security Essentials and Windows Firewall. I regularly run both programs. I have found the dllhost exe under System 32 as well as SysWow64, because I have a 64 bit computer. I had tried disabling the DEP for dllhost.exe, but it does not seem to make any difference. Actually, the DEP only allowed me to enter the System 32 dllhost.exe, when I tried to also enter the SysWow64, I was told it cannot be done. Meanwhile in Action Centre (the graph) it is coming up as com surrogate not working. I have all the Windows updates, including SP 1, installed (automatically) and everything else is updated as well. In one of the Internet posts, I found that it could be an access violation, but there was no solution. I have been running scf /SCANNOW, but it finds no problem. Is it possible to delete the RPCRT4.dll??? I read that it would then recreate itself. I was reckless enough to see, if I could do it, but it will not let me. I am the only user on my computer and I am an Administrator. However, the system settings show, that the Administrator account is not used, although I log in as Administrator. Thanks for your interest. Sewcat7

I might be of in wa wa land but if it was my computer I would do a scan with Defender Off Line. It does it job before Windows starts doing it's job.
I keep WDOL on a USB stick and just update it if need to use again. I put nothing else on the stick.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/166445-windows-defender-offline.html

I wouldn't remove RPCRT4.dll. I have read the same things you have. I really don't know for sure. If after running this program nothing is found I will ask for some help from some friends. You have had some great suggestion from some of my friends already. Something has made your computer do what it is doing. A program that has been installed or remove or what ever. We may never know what caused it but it can be fixed one way or the other.

My thought thread is this: You can always do a wipe and clean install. If you are not sure you are clean everything that you backup. The things you want to keep and put in your new install. Pictures files ect. might be infected. If you know you have a clean machine but have to do a clean install to fix a problem the odds are on your side you are not putting a infection back into the computer with your backups. This what I would do if it was my computer but I'm a little paranoid.

dllhost.exe

Hi Layback Bear, I am grateful for all suggestions, how to fix the problem. I do not think that I could cope with a clean install or a repair (I am an old lady). I use my computer mainly for machine embroidery, e.g. embroidery software and I have thousands of designs that I like to keep handy, so that I can use them as required. I do really play games or go to dicy websites. I used to run Defender, but Windows Essentials have turned it off. I also run the Malicious Software Tool. One program that I use a lot is called Embird. It has an Iconizer that that shows pictures of all embroidery designs in Windows Explorer. Maybe it is the cause of the problem. I also ran CCCleaner and I might have deleted one entry too many. Thanks for taking so much trouble. Sewcat 7

Hi Layback Bear, I am running Windows Security Essentials (full scan). I checked up on Defender and it is disabled by Windows Security Essentials. Below is an answer from a Microsoft site:

"You should only be using one antivirus programs, using multiple programs at the same time will cause problems.

By default, Windows already has defender included in it and when, let's say, you install MS security essentials, security essentials will disable defender.

My advice would to just use MS security essentials, and only use a malware cleaner if security essentials can't cure a problem.

If you do pick up a virus and security essentials can't cure it, I would suggest using this program:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx" Sewcat7

Your embroidery program could be doing it to you. If everything works as it should other than that little problem I wouldn't be to worried.
The Windows Defender that you have on your computer came with your Windows 7. When you installed Microsoft Security Essentials it turned off Windows Defender just like it was designed to do. Just for your knowledge. Windows Defender that came with your computer is very different than Windows Defender Off Line. Both made by Microsoft but work in a completely different way.
The names are very close in wording and many get them confused. If everything comes out clean after scanning with MSE I think you will be okay. If by chance you just want to know more about Windows Defender Off Line you could read this. >Windows Defender Offline<


Happy embroidering and Happy computing.

PS. If you have any question and or problems someone is always home here 24/7/365.

dllhost.exe

Hi Layback bear, thank you for telling me about Windows Defender Offline. I have just downloaded it (on a DVD, because I did not have a free USB drive, but will get one) and I am going to run it. Sewcat7

Hello sewcat7, top of the day to you. With all you nice patterns and things you do backup don't you.

dllhost.exe

Hi Layback Bear, I do back up to a second drive as well as an external drive. I think you are enquirying, because I found out, that it is not so easy to run the Offline tool. I rebooted with the disk in the drive, but it did not start. I am not sure, that I want to change the BIOS boot sequency. Does a flash drive work the same way? Thanks for your help. Sewcat7

The BIOS is probably set to boot from the hard drive (the one that contains the operating system) as the first option. If so, that would explain why you weren't able to boot from the DVD. I'm not familiar with your Z68MA-D2H-B3 motherboard but you might have a one-time boot option when you first startup your computer. At startup you might see a prompt to "Press F12 for Boot Option". Have you ever noticed a prompt like this? If yes, you could have the Windows Defender Offline DVD in the CD/DVD drive, press F12 when you see that prompt (or whatever F key prompt it says), and then select "Boot from CD/DVD" from the list of options. Since this is a one-time thing you're not permanently changing the BIOS. And yes, the same would apply to a flash drive. It would have to be the first boot option to work.

Good day folks. marsmimar answer explains thing things better than I could. Did your motherboard come with a manual? I have never used a Gigabyte board so I'm not familiar your bios workings.

Is this a COM Surrogate error you are seeing? If so see this.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/com-surrogate-has-stopped-working/3aacb95b-b72f-4b0e-807a-62b7e7298d4d

For Windows 7 x64, Deactivate DEP for dllhost.exe in this folder instead of System32.

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dllhost.exe