Ошибка specified module could not be found

When I see things like this — it is usually because there are backslashes in the path which get converted.

For example — the following will fail — because t in the string is converted to TAB character.

>>> import ctypes
>>> ctypes.windll.LoadLibrary("c:toolsdependsdepends.dll")
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "c:toolspython271libctypes__init__.py", line 431, in LoadLibrary
    return self._dlltype(name)
  File "c:toolspython271libctypes__init__.py", line 353, in __init__
    self._handle = _dlopen(self._name, mode)
WindowsError: [Error 126] The specified module could not be found

There are 3 solutions (if that is the problem)

a) Use double slashes…

>>> import ctypes
>>> ctypes.windll.LoadLibrary("c:\tools\depends\depends.dll")

b) use forward slashes

>>> import ctypes
>>> ctypes.windll.LoadLibrary("c:/tools/depends/depends.dll")

c) use RAW strings (prefacing the string with r

>>> import ctypes
>>> ctypes.windll.LoadLibrary(r"c:toolsdependsdepends.dll")

While this third one works — I have gotten the impression from time to time that it is not considered ‘correct’ because RAW strings were meant for regular expressions. I have been using it for paths on Windows in Python for years without problem )

Question

Issue: How to fix «The specified module could not be found» error on Windows?

Lately, I’ve been dealing with an error on startup that states “The specified module could not be found.” What is it and what should do I do about it?

Solved Answer

“The specified module could not be found” error usually shows on Windows startup and warm-up, but it may also pop up when working with various programs or trying to connect to the Internet. Just like the majority of Windows errors,^[1], this one might be caused by a bunch of reasons, including a virus attack^[2] as well as corrupted system files.

The reason for “The specified module could not be found” error to arise is very simple: RunDLL is a legitimate Windows component that is used to launch .dll files (it is very similar to an .exe file). Windows displays the error when a scheduled task or a Windows registry entry, which is set up to be run at startup, is deleted. The component might be related to a legitimate program, as well as malware. Many users face this problem when dealing with the browser hijacker Conduit infection.

Apart from malware infections, other triggers for “The specified module could not be found” include:

• missing or corrupted DLL files;
• damaged Windows registry^[3] entries;
• incorrect installation of programs;
• outdated Windows drivers.

Find out how to fix «The specified module could not be found» error

To fix “The specified module could not be found” error, you’ll have to analyze the background of the error and isolate its culprit. Usually, the alert provides quite explicit information about the problem, so it’s not difficult to understand which part of the system is malfunctioning:

RunDLL
There was a problem starting C:\Program
The specified module could not be found.

Normally, the error provides a full path to the DLL file^[4] or program that was unable to start. Therefore, write this name down and follow the instructions provided below to fix the “The specified module could not be found” error completely.

This video contains all the information required to solve this problem:

Fix 1. Scan your computer for malware

There have been several instances of people experiencing the “The specified module could not be found” error due to Conduit or other malware infection. In some cases, malicious files might nit be deleted appropriately, and the remainants might cause various issues, including the The specified module could not be found” error. For that, you should employ reputable anti-malware software and perform a full system scan.

There are plenty of free security tools available, as well as the built-in Windows Defender. So choose appropriately and then scan your system by choosing “Full scan” option:

• Type in Security into Windows search and select Windows Security
• Pick Virus & Threat protection
• Go for Scan options
• Select Full scan and then choose Scan now

  You can use Windows Defender or any other reputable anti-malware

Fix 2. Delete BackgroundContainer task

• Press Win + R on your keyboard
• Type in taskschd.msc and press Enter
• In the Task Scheduler click on Task Scheduler Library once
• Right-click on the BackgroundContainer task and select Delete

  Delete BackgroundContainer task via Task Scheduler

Fix 3. Stop the process of the related .dll

If the “The specified module could not be found” error pinpoints which .dll file is causing the problem you can find it and stop its process by following steps below. It should work as “The specified module could not be found” error fix for most users:

Fix 4. Use SFC feature via Command Prompt

Corrupted system files might be another reason for the issue to arise, and System File Checker and find and repair them. Thus, access Command Prompt to run the scan:

• Type in Command Prompt or cmd into Windows search box
• Right-click on Command Prompt and pick Run as administrator
• When the new window opens, type in the following command and hit Enter:
  

  sfc /scannow

• Wait till Windows finishes the scan and reports results

  Run System File Checker via Command Prompt

Fix 5. Delete Windows registry files

WARNING: tampering with Windows registry might result in permanent system damage, if modifications are not applied correctly. Therefore, please proceed with the next step with caution and at your own risk. If you want to avoid possible OS corruption, you can employ RestoroMac Washing Machine X9 and fix all the invalid registry entries left by malware, consequently fixing the “The specified module could not be found” error.

Before you proceed, you should backup your Registry. Once it’s done, follow these steps:

• Click Windows + R keys and type regedit in the Run box.
• Open Registry Editor.
• Find and delete these registry entries:
  

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

• Restart the computer

Remove registry entries

If you have followed these instructions carefully and attentively, they should have helped to solve the problem that caused “The specified module could not be found” error message.

Repair your Errors automatically

ugetfix.com team is trying to do its best to help users find the best solutions for eliminating their errors. If you don’t want to struggle with manual repair techniques, please use the automatic software. All recommended products have been tested and approved by our professionals. Tools that you can use to fix your error are listed bellow:

How to Fix «The specified module could not be found» Error in Windows 10

«The specified module could not be found» is a RunDLL error. It is related to DLL (.dll) files linked to Windows Registry and used to run tasks processed by various programs concurrently.

RunDLL errors usually occur when a program is not granted access to a specific code. These errors can also be caused by a virus or malware.

«The specified module could not be found» error often occurs on Windows startup or when launching a particular program. Corrupt or missing .dll files usually cause it.

This might be caused by malfunctions in Windows Registry originating from programs that fail to uninstall correctly. So, the main reasons for this error are:

1. Corrupt or missing .dll files.
2. Damaged Windows Registry entries.
3. Incorrect installation or uninstallation of programs.
4. Malware infections.
5. Outdated drivers.

The error often specifies which part of the system is malfunctioning and provides a full path to the name of the DLL file. Having this information makes it easier to fix this error.

The guide below describes various methods to address the «The specified module could not be found» error.

Video Showing How to Fix «The specified module could not be found» Error:

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Run System File Checker
• Scan Your System for Viruses
• End Processes Related to the Particular .DLL File
• Video Showing How to Fix «The specified module could not be found» Error

Run System File Checker

System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore them. This guide describes how to run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to scan your system files and repair missing or corrupted system files (including .DLL files).

To run it, first open Command Prompt by typing «command prompt» in Search, right-click on «Command Prompt«, and then select «Run as administrator» from the drop-down menu to run Command Prompt with administrator privileges. You must run an elevated Command Prompt to perform an SFC scan.

RunDLL errors usually occur when a program is not granted access to a specific code. These errors can also be caused by a virus or malware.

«The specified module could not be found» error often occurs on Windows startup or when launching a particular program. Corrupt or missing .dll files usually cause it.

This might be caused by malfunctions in Windows Registry originating from programs that fail to uninstall correctly. So, the main reasons for this error are:

1. Corrupt or missing .dll files.
2. Damaged Windows Registry entries.
3. Incorrect installation or uninstallation of programs.
4. Malware infections.
5. Outdated drivers.

The error often specifies which part of the system is malfunctioning and provides a full path to the name of the DLL file. Having this information makes it easier to fix this error.

The guide below describes various methods to address the «The specified module could not be found» error.

Video Showing How to Fix «The specified module could not be found» Error:

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Run System File Checker
• Scan Your System for Viruses
• End Processes Related to the Particular .DLL File
• Video Showing How to Fix «The specified module could not be found» Error

Run System File Checker

System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore them. This guide describes how to run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to scan your system files and repair missing or corrupted system files (including .DLL files).

To run it, first open Command Prompt by typing «command prompt» in Search, right-click on «Command Prompt«, and then select «Run as administrator» from the drop-down menu to run Command Prompt with administrator privileges. You must run an elevated Command Prompt to perform an SFC scan.

Type «sfc /scannow» in the Command Prompt window and press Enter on the keyboard to execute this command. System File Checker will start, and it should take some time to complete the scan.

Wait for the scanning process to complete and restart the computer. See if this fixes the «The specified module could not be found» error.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Scan Your System for Viruses

Perform a full system scan and see if it detects any malware on your computer. You can use Windows Defender (a built-in antivirus program), which protects the computer against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

To run a full system scan using Windows Defender, type «virus» in Search and click the «Virus & threat protection» result.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Scan Your System for Viruses

Perform a full system scan and see if it detects any malware on your computer. You can use Windows Defender (a built-in antivirus program), which protects the computer against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

To run a full system scan using Windows Defender, type «virus» in Search and click the «Virus & threat protection» result.

In the Virus & threat protection window, click «Advanced scan».

Select «Full scan» and click «Scan now». This will start scanning your system for malware. If there are any viruses found, delete them.

Select «Full scan» and click «Scan now». This will start scanning your system for malware. If there are any viruses found, delete them.

You can choose a virus and malware scanner from our Top anti-malware list. The list consists of well-known top spyware removers and will help you choose the right software for your computer’s protection. Find the list by clicking this link.

If the antivirus software could not find any viruses or malware related to the .dll file mentioned in the error message, you might need to run a malware scan in Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a diagnostic startup mode in Windows operating systems used to obtain limited access to Windows when the operating system does not start or function normally.

One of the most common steps when troubleshooting a computer is to boot into Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers.

It can help to troubleshoot problems on your computer, and it can be an effective way to scan the system for malware. Read this guide to find out how to start Windows in Safe Mode.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Type «file explorer options» in Search and select the File Explorer Options from the contextual menu.

In the File Explorer Options window, go to the «View» tab. You will see a list of options under «Advanced settings».

Enable the «Show hidden files, folders, and drives» option and then uncheck the «Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)» option. Click «Apply» to save the changes.

In the File Explorer Options window, go to the «View» tab. You will see a list of options under «Advanced settings».

Enable the «Show hidden files, folders, and drives» option and then uncheck the «Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)» option. Click «Apply» to save the changes.

Now start Windows in Safe Mode again, only this time select «Safe Mode with Networking». Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking and open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on the keyboard or simply right-click Start and select «Task Manager».

In the «Processes» tab, find the program associated with the .dll file causing the error, right-click it and select «End task» from the contextual menu.

In the «Processes» tab, find the program associated with the .dll file causing the error, right-click it and select «End task» from the contextual menu.

Finally, you need to make some changes to Windows Registry. To edit the registry, you will need to use Windows Registry Editor.

To open Registry Editor, right-click the Start button and select «Run» from the contextual menu. Type «regedit» and press Enter or click «OK».

Now follow these paths and delete the entries by right-clicking on each and selecting «Delete» from the contextual menu:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce

Now follow these paths and delete the entries by right-clicking on each and selecting «Delete» from the contextual menu:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce

Restart the computer and see if this fixed the «The specified module could not be found» error.

We hope that these solutions were helpful and you could fix the «The specified module could not be found» error by following the steps. If you know of other methods to solve the problem not mentioned in our guide, please share them with us by leaving a comment in the section below.

[Back to Top]