Receive Win32sys.exe Error Messages When You Start Your Computer

• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Cannot find the file "Win32sys.exe" or one of its components. Make sure the path and file name are correct.





WIN32SYS.EXE cannot be located





Could not load or run Win32sys.exe
A specified file in your win.ini could not be found

CAUSE

This issue can occur for either of the following reasons:

• The Win32sys.exe program is referenced in the Win.ini file but does not exist on your computer.



• Your computer has a virus disguised as the Win32sys.exe file.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, scan your computer for viruses, removing them if found, and then use the Microsoft System Configuration Utility to disable the Win32sys.exe line in the Win.ini file:

1. Click Start, click Run, type sysedit, and then click OK.



2. On the Window menu, click Win.ini.



3. On the Search menu, click Find, type win32sys.exe, and then click Next.



4. Place a semicolon character (;) at the beginning of the line that contains "win32sys.exe."



5. On the File menu, click Save, and then click Exit on the File menu.



6. Restart your computer.

MORE INFORMATION

The following are reports you may receive from various virus checking programs:

• Norton Anti Virus identified C:\Windows\Win32SYS.EXE as being infected with the Bloodhound.AOLPWS Virus.



• Dr Solomon identified C:\Windows\Win32SYS.EXE as being infected with the Trojan.gen virus, but could not clean it.



• McAfee virus scan detected the virus in the win32sys.exe file and tried to clean it, but could not so it was deleted.



• The C:\Windows\WIN32SYS.EXE file was identified as being infected with the PWSTEAL.Trojan (21) virus and was unable to be repaired.

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kb3rdparty kberrmsg kbui win95 win98 win98se 
Version           : WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: August 3, 1999