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From: Tony on 2 May 2010 10:36
Paul wrote:
> Tony wrote:
>> Paul wrote:
>>> Tony wrote:
>>>> Sorry - here's the story to now:
>>>>
>>>> Tony wrote:
>>>> I have been trying to simply change my desktop theme/desktop color.
>>>> Every attempt to execute the change gives me the DEP message about
>>>> "run
>>>> .dll as an app". So I went into System Properties/Advanced/Performance
>>>> and checked the box for an exception on "run .dll as an app". Reboot.
>>>> Still won't allow me to do it. So I switched to "turn off DEP",
>>>> which I
>>>> know isn't wise, but I rebooted and it still will not let me change
>>>> desktop theme, etc. A thorough online search turns up no info
>>>> beyond what I've already tried. Can anyone help me solve this?
>>>> Many thanks!
>>>>
>>>> Tony
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> > Look at the error message again.. is it more along this line?
>>>> >
>>>> > "rundll.exe" or "rungll32.exe cannot be run as an application"
>>>> >
>>>> No, the message is: "To help protect your computer, Windows has
>>>> closed
>>>> this application". The application is listed as "Run .dll as an app".
>>>>
>>>> > Kelly has a few registry fixes at her site.. I would be surprised if
>>>> > they work because of the DEP message, but they're easy-enough to
>>>> try:
>>>> >
>>>> > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>>>> > Line 295. Lift Active Desktop Restrictions
>>>> > Line 227. Restore/Enable Screensaver Tab Settings/Display
>>>> > Line 282. Enable the Appearance Tab - Display
>>>> >
>>>> > Look also at her Active Desktop tweaks, if you use that feature.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thank you for trying, Joe, but as you expected, they didn't help.
>>>> Frustrating!
>>>>
>>>> Tony
>>>
>>> First, start by reading the article on DEP. Then, think about
>>> third-party
>>> packages you've been adding to the computer. Or, alternately, think
>>> about
>>> malware as being the source of the problem. Fiddling with the DEP
>>> settings
>>> themselves, doesn't seem to be much of an option, based on people trying
>>> that in the past for weird problems, and getting nowhere as a result.
>>>
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_execution_prevention
>>>
>>> An example of a third-party app, might be something like "uxtheme".
>>> Try a search on "uxtheme" and "dep".
>>>
>>> There are downloadable CDs you can get, to scan for malware
>>> while Windows if offline. Perhaps one of those would help, with
>>> respect to looking for a malware source for the problem.
>>>
>>> http://devbuilds.kaspersky-labs.com/devbuilds/RescueDisk/
>>>
>>> With that one, you use a burner program that understands ISO9660
>>> files. Nero is what I use, but perhaps imgburn or cdburnerxp might
>>> work.
>>>
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Optical_disc_authoring_software
>>>
>>> Once you've made the CD, set up the computer to boot from
>>> CD. The KAV disc, once booted, uses DHCP to establish a connection
>>> to the network, which might work if you have a cable modem or ADSL
>>> modem/router set up. At least, I have mine DHCP enabled on my broadband
>>> connection, and then this CD can get an IP address and get connected
>>> to the Internet. Once the environment has a network connection, it will
>>> download updates to the AV database, and prepare for scanning. In the
>>> partitions menu, it lists drive letters, but the drive letters are not
>>> extracted from the partitions themselves. As a result, you have to
>>> figure
>>> out which of their "letters", corresponds to your C: drive. For example,
>>> sometimes, I have to select "F:" to be scanned, to actually get my
>>> WinXP C: to be scanned. If in doubt, just click them all. Scanning
>>> can be slow, and with this one, tends to slow down with time.
>>>
>>> Paul
>>
>> Thank you for taking the time with this, Paul. With additional work
>> last night, I did determine that the problem seems to be connected to
>> "uxtheme.dll" in some way. There are three different versions of that
>> file on my computer in three different places. By version number,
>> which one should I keep, and which directory is the right one (I
>> presume system32, but I'm not sure). Or should I chuck them all?
>>
>> Again, my thanks for making the effort on this!
>>
>> Tony
>
> I don't know how to fix it, but I have my suspicions. The only reason
> it came to mind, is your mention of "theme".
>
> It appears I have the same version of uxtheme.dll in
>
> C:\WINDOWS\system32
> C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache
>
> It is 6.00.2900.5512 and appears to have come with SP3. 218,624 bytes.
>
> Perhaps if you'd used some third-party theme software, it installed
> or hacked your theme file ?
>
> Paul


I thought of that, but the interesting thing is that I have never
downloaded or used *ANY* theme except what's available with the original
(and updated) WindowsXP. Specifically what I'd been trying to is this:

I prefer a blank desktop - no wallpaper - a very, very light shade.
Usually very light tan, occasionally very light blue. I used to switch
back and forth between those two about once a month easily (they were
both self-created "custom colors" within system properties) but suddenly
I'd get that DEP slam on the brakes when I'd go to do it, telling me
that the offending program was "Run .dll as an app", which is not a
program at all, of course.

Anyhow, a few minutes ago - after an extensive online search that told
me mostly that a LOT of people have had this same problem, I found and
downloaded a recommended fix called "Uxtheme Multipatcher 6.0" That
seems to have solved the problem - for now, anyway. Again THANK YOU for
your time and effort!

Tony
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