Error Message: Rundll32 Caused a Fault in Setupx

Last reviewed: December 9, 1997
Article ID: Q177847

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click Add New Hardware in Control Panel, you may receive the following error message:

   General Protection Fault
   Rundll32 caused a fault in Setupx

CAUSE

You may receive this error message if there is a damaged .inf file in the Windows\Inf folder.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, find and delete the damaged .inf file in the Windows\Inf folder. To do so, follow these steps:

Verify that you can view hidden and system files. To do so, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
```
      ARTICLE-ID : Q141276
      TITLE      : How to View System and Hidden Files in Windows
```
Determine the date of your original Windows system files. To do so, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
b. In the Named box, type "win.com" (without quotation marks), and then
```
      click Find Now.
```
c. Right-click the Win.com file in your Windows folder, and then click
```
      Properties.
```
d. Note the date on the Modified line. This is the date of your
```
      original Windows system files.
```
Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
In the Named box, type "inf" (without quotation marks), and then click Find Now.
Double-click the Inf folder.
Move all of the .inf files that do not have the same date as your original Windows system files into a new folder. For information about how to create a new folder, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type "creating folders" (without quotation marks), and then click Display. For information about how to move files, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type "moving files" (without quotation marks), and then click Display.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Add New Hardware, and follow the instructions on the screen. If you do not receive the error message, skip to step 10.
If you receive the error message when you run the Add New Hardware wizard, move the .inf files back into the Inf folder, and then reinstall Windows 95. For information about how to reinstall Windows 95, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
```
      ARTICLE-ID: Q149712
      TITLE     : How to Install Windows 95: Helpful Tips and Suggestions
```
If you do not receive the error message when you run the Add New Hardware wizard, the damaged .inf file is one of the files you moved in step 6. To identify the damaged .inf file, move the .inf files back into the Inf folder one at a time (noting the name of the .inf file you are moving), and then repeat steps 7-8. Repeat this process until you receive the error message again. When you receive the error message again, the last .inf file you moved is the damaged .inf file. To determine where this file originated, double-click the file and note any manufacturer, version, or date information that may indicate the origin of the file. After you determine the origin of the file, delete the file, and then reinstall it from the original installation disks or CD-ROM.

MORE INFORMATION

.Inf files are text files that contain setup information that is needed to install hardware.

For more information about issues with .inf files, see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID : Q137377
   TITLE      : Removing Drivers from Wizard Hardware Lists

   ARTICLE-ID : Q139206
   TITLE      : Hardware List Not Updated After Installing New .inf File

Additional query words: 4.00
Keywords : win95 kbenv kberrmsg kbhw
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: December 9, 1997
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