The Colonel's Remedy: What Causes the

The ".dll" file known as "kernel32" is a popular topic when it comes to troubleshooting PC concerns. Many owners with slow and buggy computers have more or less encountered error messages on their screens that indicate problems with this particular file.

For the lost troubleshooter, "kernel32.dll" is a file that the system needs to access during plenty of processes that take place within the central processing unit. Problems with the file cause errors to appear in almost any situation. Consider it a library card to the archives of the hard drive. Should one not have a library card, he cannot take out the information and use it in various programs and processes. This issue may hamper users from opening certain files on their computer. In worse cases, a kernel32 error might even stop the computer from starting up altogether.

Because of these consequences, a good place to start learning about how to fix problems with this file is to determine what kinds of situations cause the file to get damaged in the first place:

1. Hardware Accelerators - These are unnatural programs that aim to force the computer to operate beyond safe conditions. These cause the hard disk to spin faster or the task manager to end important processes that use kernel32.dll. Uninstalling or closing these programs will allow users to determine if the error message is caused by these installations.

2. Virus - Even.dll files are at risk of being corrupted by viruses. Most inconvenient viruses attack system files to send unwanted commands to the computer. Worms and Trojans alike may access.dll folders and force computers to send spam messages or to look for other devices connected to the computers' network. Running a virus scan is also recommended to find out if it is a virus that is causing the error to occur.

3. Broken hard drive - The file itself may not be the problem in some cases. Sometimes, the storage device that holds the.dll files may be broken or too fragmented for the system to find this. If defragmenting your drive does not solve the issue, a replacement of the hard drive might prove to be a more effective solution to the problem.

4. Faulty/Problematic Installations - A pirated copy of unlicensed software also causes the kernel32 issue. This can be determined if the error messages only appear when using a particular program. If such is the case, uninstalling and reinstalling the said program might remedy the situation. If it does not, it might mean the copy used to install the software has been compromised. Approach the dealer that distributes the software to ask for further troubleshooting. Looking for another program that does the same thing is also an option.

5. Heat - Blocked ventilation and overuse may cause the error. Giving the unit a break and cleaning out the exhaust of the CPU is a good place to start for most troubleshooting tasks. In other cases, the kernel32 file may be the one causing the overheating. So if the computer is overheating and cleaning out and providing proper ventilation does not solve the issue, it most probably means that the file has already been damaged and the hard drive is exerting too much effort finding and reading it.

6. BIOS Setting - The Basic Input Output System (BIOS) might have some erroneous settings. The time and date might not be set right. A bad boot order might be causing the problem. A newly installed hard drive might not have been configured properly. These elements are found within the BIOS. Owners might need to access these settings in order to fix the problem. Kernel errors stemming from BIOS settings usually end up with computers refusing to boot properly which makes them unusable. Hit the F1 or F2 button (depending on computer system) during the first several seconds of system start-up to access the BIOS settings.

These things are usually the primary areas of interest during kernel32.dll problems. Going through these particular steps might show where the problem is or fix it in general. In more severe cases that the above-mentioned steps do not work, more drastic measures must be taken such as a reformat or a complete replacement of the hard drive or the whole computer altogether.

In order to avoid this problem, users are encouraged to run regular virus scanning and defragmenting to keep the hard drive healthy and efficient. It is also a good idea to make sure that the computer only runs legitimate software in order to maintain its integrity and the files that run it. By proper maintenance, it becomes less likely that the important registry and.dll and.exe files become damaged or corrupt.