Shell32.dll ...... what is it??
Shell32.dll ...... what is it??
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Discussion

mad mark

Original Poster:

2,345 posts

263 months

Saturday 17th February 2007
quotequote all
I've just set my AVG (free version) to scan my PC for viruses, as it seems to be a bit slow at the moment.

It is picking up a file called "shell32.dll". In the "Result/Change" box it says "change"

I've run the test a couple of times and each time this shows up.
Is it something I should worry about?

Maybe it's always been there and I just not noticed, as I don't usually bother to run a manual scan, just let it do it itself in the background.

dodgyviper

1,214 posts

269 months

Saturday 17th February 2007
quotequote all
Hi Mark

Shell32 is a v essential Windows file which should be installed into the windows system32 folder. You should only have one unless you have install software which will contain a copy itself e.g. in cab files (See screenshot)



Copied this from a quick Google - could be worth checking out

"shell32.dll is a set of functions that are put together into a library that can be used by different applications which need the functionality coded in them. Ideally, there should only be one copy of the shell32 dll on a machine. The appearance of two of them could mean that one of them may be some sort of malicious program that is hiding under the name of shell32.dll so that at first glance it may not get detected as malicious program becuase it sounds like an important file. If you have an approximate idea of when your operating system(Windows) was installed, then you can check the date and time of the two copies of the shell32.dll file and delete which ever was added later. "

Where are both your dll's located?

mad mark

Original Poster:

2,345 posts

263 months

Sunday 18th February 2007
quotequote all
I did do a bit of a Google search, but to be honest it didn't make much sense to me

What you say about there being two of them would seem to explain why AVG is asking to change it, see below....


I searched my pc for shell32 and these were the results...Not sure if any can be deleted or not?


don't know if this helps at all??

mad mark

Original Poster:

2,345 posts

263 months

Tuesday 20th February 2007
quotequote all
Bump!!


Anyone??

BliarOut

72,863 posts

270 months

Tuesday 20th February 2007
quotequote all
Bet you've just had an automatic Windows update applied to your PC, there's quite a few new ones about at the mo. Worth having a dig about and seeing if any of your recent updates replace it. My money's on the answer being a big fat yes.

mad mark

Original Poster:

2,345 posts

263 months

Tuesday 20th February 2007
quotequote all
BliarOut said:
Bet you've just had an automatic Windows update applied to your PC, there's quite a few new ones about at the mo. Worth having a dig about and seeing if any of your recent updates replace it. My money's on the answer being a big fat yes.

Your right! I did, not long ago have a auto update.
So what should I look out for.... "Worth having a dig about and seeing if any of your recent updates replace it." ?? what recent updates are you referring too?

R1 GTR

2,152 posts

244 months

Tuesday 20th February 2007
quotequote all
Just done the first scan on my pc for ages with avg free and its picked it up too
also auto-updated not long ago

Edited by R1 GTR on Tuesday 20th February 19:08

BliarOut

72,863 posts

270 months

Tuesday 20th February 2007
quotequote all
The windows updates replace certain key files on your PC if they have a vulnerability. One of them will have updated shell.dll.

In this case it's nothing to worry about if all else seems well.

mad mark

Original Poster:

2,345 posts

263 months

Tuesday 20th February 2007
quotequote all
That sounds good, thanks BliarOut

When I first noticed it, my pc had started running a bit slow, hence the manual scan.
But since then it seems to have returned to normal, so hopefully you are right.