Expert: Carolyn Meinel - 12/23/2008

Question
Every time I turn my computer on, this message appears after the desktop loads:

RunDLL
Error Loading C:\Windows\system32\cpmsky.dll
The specified module could not be found.

What could it be and how can I fix it?

Thanks for any help!


Answer
That file, cpmsky.dll, is a portion of a program used by an adware program which feeds ads into your browser whether you want it to or not. Since that portion of the program is missing, the adware program must have been partially, but not completely disabled.

To get rid of it entirely, Here is what will almost certainly work.

1) Download either Kapersky Internet Security, which offers a free 30 day trial at http://kapersky.com or F-Secure's Complete Internet security suite, which offers a free thirty day trial: https://store.f-secure.com/cgi-bin/dlreg/ml=EN?ID=FSISTB&desid=TRIAL

2) Disconnect from the Internet.

3) Uninstall your current antivirus and anti-spyware or anti-adware programs. This is absolutely essential because otherwise they and F-Secure or Kapersky will fight each other and might crash your computer. It isn't good enough to just turn off your old security programs.

4) Install your Internet Security product. Download any updates available.

5) Run a complete scan of your computer. Follow any instructions it might give you.

6) Reboot.

If this works, you can either keep your new Internet Security product or uninstall it and reinstall your old antivirus, anti-spyware/adware programs from either a download of the latest version from their website (if that's how they sell it) or from the disk it was on when you bought it. Be sure to get all the latest updates right away. Usually antivirus companies are pretty good about updating their programs whenever some new attack becomes able to evade or cripple their product.

If you weren't running an antivirus program that includes antispyware and anti-adware protection and a firewall, then I recommend that you not reinstall your old program. Nowadays we need total protection, and this includes antispyware and a firewall.

7) To prevent future infections, don't use Internet Explorer, as it is susceptible to introducing viruses, adware and spyware into your computer. Instead you could use Firefox, free from Mozilla.org . Instead of using Outlook for email, you could use Thunderbird, free from Mozilla.org, or Eudora, free from Eudora.com .