{"id":4323,"date":"2016-06-16T22:16:19","date_gmt":"2016-06-17T03:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/?p=4323"},"modified":"2017-02-03T10:24:11","modified_gmt":"2017-02-03T16:24:11","slug":"gdi32-dll-not-found","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neosmart.net\/wiki\/gdi32-dll-not-found\/","title":{"rendered":"GDI32.dll not found: Fix for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

Get the fix for the error\u00a0 GDI32.dll not found<\/strong> on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.<\/strong><\/p>\n

About “GDI32.dll not found”<\/h2>\n

The following information on this error has been compiled by NeoSmart Technologies, based on the information gathered and reported by our global network of engineers, developers, and technicians or partner organizations.<\/p>\n

Description and Symptoms<\/span><\/h3>\n

The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.<\/p>\n

Symptom 1: “GDI32.dll not found” error screen on startup<\/h3>\n

GDI32.DLL exports Graphics Device Interface (GDI) functions that perform primitive drawing functions for output to video displays and printers. Applications call GDI functions directly to perform low-level drawing, text output, font management, and similar functions. If this file becomes missing or corrupt, then the system is unable to load properly and the “GDI32.dll not found” error screen appears.<\/p>\n

Here is an example of “GDI32.dll not found” error screen for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7:<\/p>\n

\"Windows<\/a><\/p>\n

STOP: c0000135 (Unable To Locate Component)\r\nThis application has failed to start because GDI32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix the problem.<\/pre>\n
On Windows 8 this error generates a more generic “Your PC did not start correctly” error screen:<\/p>\n
\"Windows<\/a><\/p>\n
Automatic Repair\r\n\r\nYour PC did not start correctly\r\nPress \"Restart\" to restart your PC, which can sometimes fix the problem. You can also press \"Advanced options\" to try other options to repair your PC.\r\n<\/pre>\n
While on Windows 10, it also causes a slightly different error screen to appear:<\/p>\n
\"Windows<\/a><\/p>\n
Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you(45% complete)\r\nIf you'd like to know more, you can search online later for this error: 0xc0000135<\/pre>\n
Causes of this Error<\/h2>\n
This error has been known to occur as a result of one of the following causes:<\/p>\n
Cause 1: GDI32.dll file is corrupt or missing<\/h3>\n
Virus attacks, power outages and disk write errors may cause files to become missing or corrupt. If that’s the case, then the operating system can’t find the GDI32.dll file, and the boot process is halted with a “GDI32.dll was not found ” error.<\/p>\n
Fixing \u201cGDI32.dll not found\u201d on Windows<\/span><\/h2>\n
Windows Setup CD\/DVD Required!<\/strong>
Some of the solutions below require the use of the Microsoft Windows setup CD or DVD. If your PC did not come with a Windows installation disc or if you no longer have your Windows setup media, you can use Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows<\/a> instead. EasyRE will automatically find and fix many problems, and can also be used to solve this problem with the directions below.<\/p>\n
Fix #1: Replace GDI32.dll<\/h3>\n
Windows Setup CD\/DVD Required!<\/strong>
Some of the solutions below require the use of the Microsoft Windows setup CD or DVD. If your PC did not come with a Windows installation disc or if you no longer have your Windows setup media, you can use Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows<\/a> instead. EasyRE will automatically find and fix many problems, and can also be used to solve this problem with the directions below.<\/p>\n
If gdi32.dll is in fact missing or corrupt, you can restore the original gdi32.dll file back from your Windows XP installation disc.<\/p>\n
Unable to boot into the Windows setup CD?<\/strong>
See our guide on setting up a PC to boot from the CD or DVD<\/a> for troubleshooting and more detailed instructions.<\/p>\n
    \n
  1. Insert your XP CD into the computer.<\/li>\n
  2. Restart your computer.<\/li>\n
  3. Press any key to boot into the CD when you see the “Press any key to boot from CD” message.<\/li>\n
  4. Press\u00a0R<\/kbd>\u00a0to start\u00a0Recovery Console<\/strong>\u00a0when the Options screen appears.<\/li>\n
  5. Type in your Administrator password followed by the\u00a0Enter<\/kbd>\u00a0key to submit it.<\/li>\n
  6. You’ll reach the Command Prompt now, type the following command, where\u00a0D:\\<\/code>\u00a0is your CD’s drive letter and\u00a0C:\\<\/code>\u00a0is the letter of the drive you installed Windows to:\n
    expand D:\\i386\\gdi32.dl_ C:\\Windows\\system32\\<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
  7. Press\u00a0Y<\/kbd>\u00a0when you are asked if you want to overwrite this file and then hit\u00a0Enter<\/kbd>\u00a0to submit the command.<\/li>\n
  8. Restart your computer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Here is an example of what the PC’s console output should look like once the GDI32.dll file is properly restored:<\/p>\n
    \"GDI32.dll<\/a><\/p>\n
    GDI32.dll restored from Win XP install CD<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
    Fix #2: Repair corrupted system files with the SFC command<\/h3>\n
    On Windows Vista and Windows 7, it is possible to use the built-in Windows SFC(system file checker) tool to automatically scan a computer’s system files and repair them if necessary.<\/p>\n
    Here are the steps to run SFC:<\/p>\n
      \n
    1. Boot from your Windows install disc<\/li>\n
    2. Click on Repair your co<\/strong>mputer<\/strong>\u00a0after selecting proper language, time and keyboard input.<\/li>\n
    3. Select the Windows installation drive, which is usually C:\\<\/code>, and click Next<\/strong><\/li>\n
    4. Choose Command Prompt when the System Recovery Options box appears<\/li>\n
    5. Write the following command and press Enter<\/kbd> afterwards:\n
      sfc \/scannow \/offbootdir=D:\\ \/offwindir=D:\\Windows\\<\/pre>\n
      Replace D: with the letter of the driver where Windows is installed, and D:\\Windows with the Windows folder location.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      Here is an example of what the PC’s console output should look like once the sfc.exe scan is complete and missing files are successfully restored:<\/p>\n
      \"GDI32.dll<\/a><\/p>\n
      GDI32.dll restored by the SFC utility<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
      Fix #3: Check the hard drive with CHKDSK utility<\/h3>\n
      If the hard drive has its file integrity compromised, it is possible to use built-in Windows CHKDSK utility to scan the disk and fix the file system errors.<\/p>\n
      Here are the steps to run CHKDSK:<\/p>\n
        \n
      1. Boot from your Windows install disc<\/li>\n
      2. Click on Repair your co<\/strong>mputer<\/strong>\u00a0after selecting proper language, time and keyboard input.<\/li>\n
      3. Select the Windows installation drive, which is usually C:\\<\/code>, and click Next<\/strong><\/li>\n
      4. Choose Command Prompt when the System Recovery Options box appears<\/li>\n
      5. Write the following command and press Enter<\/kbd> afterwards:\n
        chkdsk C: \/f<\/pre>\n
        Replace C: with the letter of the driver where Windows is installed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        Here is an example of what the PC’s console output should look like once the chkdsk.exe is complete:<\/p>\n
        \"Chkdsk<\/a><\/p>\n
        Chkdsk utility results screen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
        More Information<\/h2>\n
        Linked Entries<\/h3>\n