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I have a problem where any program is started under Windows Vista, the following error message is generated

Bad Image C;\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~3\GOEC62~1.DLL is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error.Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support.

This happens for every program started, including those that start automatically at boot time. My Google-fu is failing to solve this for me.

I have already tried an "sfc /scannow" which did find some problems, but it said that it could not correct them.

What might cause this problem? How might it be resolved?

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Is it the same file path in every program, or a different one on each program? How long has this been happening? – Macha Nov 28 '09 at 12:55
It happens the same way on every program. It only started happening yesterday morning. I think by eliminiation, I may have found the problem. Will post an answer if I can confirm. – Mark Hatton Nov 29 '09 at 18:28
Did you ever solve? Wife has this problem now. – jerrygarciuh Dec 12 '10 at 19:26
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2 Answers

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This appears to have been something to do with Google Toolbar, but even after uninstalling in Control Panel, the problem does not go away. I needed to completely remove the folder for it in C:\Program Files\ in order to stop the problem from happening.

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Google has inserted the DLL into this registry key.

The AppInit_DLLs value is found in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows

All the DLLs that are specified in this value are loaded by each Microsoft Windows-based application that is running in the current log on session.

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