.dll noob

Knightinator · 9 Oct 2010 at 12:23

So a couple of weeks ago AVG picked up a number of files with trojans in, these files were then moved to the virus vault and I haven't had any problems since. However the latest itunes causes a blue screen every time it tries to sync and I'm getting error messages on boot up about how certain .dll files can't be found. I've found one of the .dll files listed inside the avg virus vault. I have no idea whether I can just restore the file from there or whether it is still infected? Do i need to use some sort of registry cleaning/repair software? Any help would be much appreciated.

theheyes · 9 Oct 2010 at 12:43

How much of a pain is it to reinstall Windows? If one or more system DLLs have been infected, then you need to find good copies of them and put them back. You could spend ages doing this and still not be guaranteed a working computer at the end of it.

Which version of Windows are you using?

Knightinator · 9 Oct 2010 at 12:52

Thanks for the quick reply: vista 32bit. Is there anyway i can take the files in the vault then somehow dis-infect them and put them back or does it just not work like that? It doesn't seem to be effecting anything other than itunes and even then its only when I actually try to sync with my ipod and then it will bluescreen. If I can get itunes to work without blue-screening is it ok to just keep using my computer as normal is this sort of error really something that I need to sort ?

oap · 9 Oct 2010 at 13:05

Re-install itunes?

theheyes · 9 Oct 2010 at 13:33

Which DLL is it, or are there lots?

The likely scenario is whatever malware you got modified or replaced some DLL files on your computer. AVG has recognised one or more of these and binned them, which is why you're getting these error messages. The problem is you can't rely on AVG to know it got all of them, and it wouldn't surprise me if this was the root cause of your iTunes blue screens (error codes off the blue screen would be useful)

Taking them out of the file vault would just put the infected DLLs back, which ironically might make the computer more stable, but it's not ideal for obvious reasons. "Disinfecting" a DLL is not really viable, you generally just replace it with a known good version. I suppose you could go to the trouble of finding these online, but for me there are too many ifs and buts.

If you really don't want to reinstall and time isn't a factor, I'm sure somebody will post a list of the general disinfection steps they prefer to use (and removal of AVG for something better).

Knightinator · 9 Oct 2010 at 14:07

There were 3 dll's but after typing them all into google only one came up with anything which was corefoundation.dll, I just tried re-installing itunes for the third time and it just synced my entire ipod without a single error. I have no idea why it worked that time but it seems to be working fine. I haven't rebooted yet since the latest install so I'm not sure if the .dll errors are gone but I would really appreciate if anyone had any recommendations for useful software to help with this sort of thing in the future, especially if avg isnt that great. Thanks for the help and quick replies guys, ill update once I've rebooted.