Hello, My current main problem occurs when downloading updates from window updates. The update downloads just fine, but then the installation runs unbelievably slow and never finishes. I have checked the running processes with Wintop (kind of like Windows 2000's task manager) and when the installation begins, up pops rundll32.exe along with the update file running. The problem is that rundll32.exe is using between 98-99.8% of the processor's capacity, essentially bringing the computer to a near stand still. Should rundll32.exe be running and/or using all of an 800 MHz processor? I have cleaned the machine of ad/spy ware with ad-aware and restored a copy of rundll32.exe from the installation disk, tried with nothing running but explorer and systray, but problem remains. Is something else hijacking the use of rundll32? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can't update my OS anymore!!! Running Windows ME on an h/p Pavillion laptop, 800 Mhz Pentium, 256k memory. Word, Darin

hello try the things in this link should help you out http://www.burzurq.com/forum/trevtweak.html

I've tried everything suggested there and the problem remains. I've also tried turning off system restore as well. Nothing seems to work...

Rundll32.exe is just a standand program that executes some specified DLL routine being used in the update process. One of the "nice" things Windows does not do, is tell you what the name of the DLL function being ran by Rundll32.exe. So you have no clue what it is. It is the DLL function being ran that is hanging, not the RUNDLL32.exe program. Make sure ScanDisk runs OK (I assume you have done this). Microsoft has been making a lot of changes to their web site and the Windows Update process the past few weeks/days and its possible you have back level Update control files on your system or they are having a problem with the update programs. So go to "Program Files" folder and delete the folder "WindowsUpdate". This will clear out any backlevel control programs and files used by the Update processes and clear any history files. It will take longer to start the Update program as it now must download current copies of the files, but this usually takes care of this type of problem.

Still having the same problem after deleting the Windows Update folder, I'll wait a few more days to see if update begins to work. Is it possible that another .dll file is starting when rundll32.exe begins and "hijacking" the CPU for its own use??? WOuld there be any way of finding this out, like a third party software package??? Thanks again for all of your help and ideas, Darin

Use the windows task manager and click on processes tab to find the app using up your CPU. It may be normal when this app is initializing for few seconds to use up CPU but it should go away in a minute or so. Do you have a dial up connection or CABLE/DSL? Some antivirus programs and firewalls up date at windows startup, there may be an option in the app to not up-date at startup. Usually there is an option you can choose that will allow you to set when you want to up-date these apps. Norton antivirus and Norton firewall will hang the system at start-up, especially if you have a dial-up connection but I'm not sure why. Sometimes uninstalling and reinstalling those apps can help. I think the APP is looking for your connection type so they can start there up-date procedure, if no internet connection is detected the app stops the procedure freeing your CPU. If you do a un-install of those apps after reboot check your resources to see if they have freed up. Also some disk utilities suck up CPU during defrag procedure and some are set to defrag at start up and manual restarts.

I had the problem with the update but with out The Rundll thing, I tried to down load Explorer 6 8 times. My fix was go into windows to update setup and I found Internet 5 update item and deleted it. and I downloaded all my updates with no problem. With the CPU load I installed 512 Ram and RAM BOOSTER.Now if the cpu loads to 100% I clean some ram with RB and it drops back to 70 to 80%.