Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
mwsbar.dll is a toolbar for Internet Explorer commonly part of "My Web Search". Getting rid of mwsbar.dll, or references to it, isn't terribly difficult.
I have a Rundll error message that states: Error loading C:\Progra~1\MYWEBS~1\Bar\1.Bin\MWSBAR.dll. How can I fix that?
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There's a lot left unsaid in your question - like what system you're running on, what browser you use, and even when the error is happening.
But, I'm going to make a few assumptions, and follow those up with a wild guess.
Maybe it'll help.
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First, "mwsbar.dll" is associated with the "My Web Search" toolbar which is downloaded and installed with several different free products. The first step is simple: go to Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs... and look for and uninstall "My Web Search Bar". It can actually be present under several different names, so look for any of the other items listed here.
Even though My Web Search is not spyware, it's apparently flagged by some anti-spyware utilities. So my next recommendation is, of course, to make sure you're running a good, up-to-date spyware scan.
Now, all of that probably assumes that things are working - and obviously, since you're getting an error message, something isn't quite right. Those steps may, or may not, clear up the problem. Our next step is to address the symptom.
mwsbar.dll is what's called a "browser helper object" or BHO. It's something that's installed into Internet Explorer. I have to assume that that's what you are using, and that the error appears when you start IE.
Fortunately, IE has an often over-looked interface for dealing with "Browser Helper Objects".
In Internet Explorer, click on the Tools menu, and then click on the Manage Add-Ons... menu item. You should get a dialog box similar to this:
The list of items therein will probably be quite different for you.
Now, you may already see something listed with the "My Web Search" name. But if not, grab the scroll bar at the bottom of the list and drag it to the right. The list will scroll to the left, and display an additional column - the name of the File that provides the BHO:
Here you'll most likely see "mwsbar.dll" listed one or more times. (You may need to scroll down through the entire list.)
Once you find it, click on it, then click on the Disable Setting below the list. Close the Add-on manager, close IE, and see if that didn't solve your problem.
If it didn't (and you're sure that all instances of mwsbar.dll are removed from the Add-on manager), then the next step is to remove it manually. Rather than repeat someone else's work, I'll simply point you here: Fun Web Products "My Web Search" Removal Instructions and Help, which includes instructions to use the diagnostic tool HijackThis to remove the registry entries that relate to My Web Search.
Article C2779 - September 6, 2006 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
October 24, 2008 11:08 AM
Hi,
My computer had been acting strange soooo I did an antivirus scan on McAffe and they are he ones who had found this virus on my computer. I had copied the name and found the file and moved it to my desktop. Probably not the most smartest thing Ive done, but I had tried everything to alter it and failed. My computer will not let me delete it. So I had done some research on this and some of the websites say it is in your System Restore. I looked in the system restore and it will not go back to beyond the date of where this virus was picked up which was back in July.
Many had said that that it is in your System restore and you should turn it off and work in safe mode to delete it, and your advice is to delete the added on searh engine...
do you have any comments on this?
Thank you in advanced
August 27, 2009 6:56 AM
I tried to find MWSBAR.dll and it is not installed in Internet Explorer, anywhere that I can find on my computer. I am not able to remove it from add or remove programs because my computer can't find it. Help PLEASE!!!
December 27, 2009 4:54 PM
My OS is Windows 2000 Professional. I can't locate Manage Add ons in the Internet Explorer Tools menu.
28-Dec-2009
September 11, 2010 1:20 PM
I have been at this for numerous days. I have tried adding ghost files with notepad, I have tried to use the registry editor, I have used CCleaner, I have tried manually removing the entries, I have used malware bits, I have installed spyware blaster, and a number of assorted other things including going into internet explorer and into the registry myself to remove registry entries, without success. I can remove everything associated with this mwsbar, but it keeps repopulating itself within nano seconds of being removed. There is some code somewhere which is calling for this thing which gives me the error message. I am at wits end and buggy from staring at this machine for so long.
October 14, 2010 10:43 AM
hi leo,Every time i start my laptop,i get a Rundll error message that states: Error loading C:\Progra~1\MYWEBS~1\Bar\1.Bin\MWSBAR.dll. How can I fix that?
Model:Compaq 620
os : Windows XP
processor:intel CORE2 Duo
browser:Mozilla firefox
no problem while running the internet
problem is only while laptop is turned on
antivirus:ESETNODE
RAM:4 gb
i have read the above article but it says nothing
about wht to do whn the error occurs during laptop
turn on.also i am specifying the details about my laptop.please,please reply.