VISTA - Windows host process Rundll32 has stopped working error!

[Horton]

Why do I get the message Windows host process Rundll32 has stopped working everytime I open a folder that has any video files?
This is really annoying and I don't know what is causing it or how to fix it. If I want to browse some of my folders with videos I get like 50 little windows telling me that message, I just close them and nothing bad happens but it is a pain to be closign one of these windows every time there is a video file on my folders even if I don't try to open it I get the message. Sometimes it pop-up without me accessing anything.

Can anyone please help me!?

[Raymond]

I am also having problems with Vista on a new laptop I ordered from Dell. Windows becomes unstable and this is visible in the taskbar and sidebar too. The system tray icons disappear and the windows that are minimized are shifted to the left. Sidebar sometimes comes on sometimes doesn't. When I try to restart through the start button, it's unresponsive and the only way to restart is through Ctr+Alt+Del. Sometimes I also get a message that reads "Windows Explorer has stopped working/ Windows Explorer is restarting." I've had to re-install the operating system again (Vista), but it's still doing the same.
Also Internet Explorer shuts down nearly instantly. I'm so fed up with this that I've decided to install XP Pro instead, I never had any problems with XP and Microsoft jumped the gun by releasing this crappy operating system, but that's typical. They'll use the consumer as guinea pigs, and they'll probably get all these bugs fixed by 2009 through their service packs. Is anyone else out there having similar problems?

[Tolmino]

I too have experienced NUMEROUS problems with Vista. I keep getting errors such as "Com Surrgate has stopped working" or "Rundlle32 has stopped working". Then,the Data Protection Execution box comes up. I have tried disabling it but still, it does not work. Every time I try to run Pinnacle Studio 11, which is supposed to be Vista compatible, I get these errors.

All in all, I am very disappointed with Microsoft. Now that my 90 days are up, they want money to help but they never addressed the problem correctly in the first place. My summation is that next time, I am going to get a MAC and move on.

[Tomek]

Here's a quick fix that might work for you. Go into to System>Advanced System Settings>Performance>Settings>Data Execution Prevention>Turn on DEP for all Programs and Services except those I select.

Now you must click add and navigate into the System32 folder. Now you need to select dllhost (which is COM Surrogate) and open it and choose ok to the warning. You'll see COM Surrogate appear with a check box selected.

Now you must do the same thing to add rundll32(which is Windows host process) from the System32 folder. You'll see Windows host process( Rundll32) appear with a check box selected after you choose ok to the warning.
Click ok to close out the Advanced Settings.

[laurentio]

Have you run a full disk check to make sure you aren't dealing with data corruption on your drive? In 90% of the cases I have came across it was a data corruption issue.
If that isn't at least part of the issue I would try disabling DEP (Data Execution Prevention)
You might want to try this, but be aware that you are disabling a rather important protection feature of Windows...

To turn DEP completely off in Vista open a command window (or click on Start/Run and type cmd and hit return) and type the following:
bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOff

To turn DEP back on:
bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOn

In Vista, the effect is immediate - no reboot required.

DEP can be somewhat fine tuned through the GUI...

- Right click Computer, select properties (or CP/<Classic View>/System)
- Select Advanced System Settings (in the left pane)
- Advanced tab (you should already be there)
- Click Settings under Performance
- Select the Data Execution Prevention tab
- Select "Turn on DEP for all programs..."
- Click Add and browse to \Windows\System32\Rundll32.exe
- You might also want to add \Windows\explorer.exe

This is rather extreme (and should only be done temporarily for troubleshooting), so you might want to consider backing up and reinstalling if no better solution is found for you. I realize that's a huge hassle, but better safe than convenient - Vista is definitely more robust than XP, but when it breaks it seems to break really bad - as you've experienced.

Good luck!