Application failed to start because DNSAPI.dll was not found. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

The reply from the MS Answers Forum Moderator "expert" is ridiculous and impossible.

Obviously they do not take time to reproduce problems and figure out how to fix them.

If you are seeing messages like this:

lsass.exe - Unable To Locate Component

This application has failed to start because DNSAPI.dll was not found.  Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

or messages like this:

lsass.exe - Bad Image

The application or DLL C:\WINDOWS\system32\DNSAPI.dll is not a valid Windows image.  Please check this against your installation diskette.

In either scenario, if you click OK, you will have an empty screen with a moveable mouse cursor and then you are stuck.

You will not be running sfc /scannow (which will not fix the problem anyway), you will not be running the Microsoft Safety Scanner, you will not be running System Restore, you will not be performing a clean boot.

If the problem is just a missing/corrupt dnsapi.dll file, it is usually easy to fix but you will never solve it with the advice from these alleged Microsoft engaged MS Answers "experts".

If I were you, I would start a new topic/thread/question and get as far away from that advice as possible.

At the top of the screen, click Participate then, Ask a Question.

Hi,

Dnsapi.dll error messages might appear while using or installing certain programs, when Windows starts or shuts down, or maybe even during a Windows installation.

Dnsapi.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the dnsapi DLL file.

1.     Have you made any changes to the computer prior to the issue?

2.     Which antivirus software is installed on the computer?

Method 1:

Perform SFC (System file checker) scan and see whether the issue is resolved or not.

System File Checker (SFC) http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/system\_file\_checker.mspx?mfr=true

Method 2:

Some dnsapi.dll errors could be related to a virus or other malware infection on your computer that has damaged the DLL file. It's even possible that the dnsapi.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

Download and run the latest Microsoft Safety Scanner to scan the computer and check if it helps:

**http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx**

Note: Any data files that are infected may only be cleaned by deleting the file entirely, which means there is a potential for data loss.

Method 3:

Try performing system restore and check:

How to restore Windows XP to a previous state

**http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084**

Method 4:

Perform a clean boot.

To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows Vista or Windows 7 by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts. How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" state

**http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353**

Note: After using Clean Boot to resolve the issue follow “Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state” under step 4 from the above mentioned kb article.

Let us know if it helps!

Windows defender pops up with dnsapi.dll Trojan danger danger hoo-ha. Go to sys32 and delete dnsapi.dll. Firefox Developers Edition won't start. Malwarebytes won't start. Copy dnsapi.dll from a different windows dir. and paste to sys32. Restart. Firefox works. Malwarebytes still won't start. Do a Google search for dnsapi.dll. Go to Microsoft Support, read instructions  (should have done this first) run sfc /scannow. Malwarebytes starts. Problem seems to be resolved. Will update if needed. (Windows 7 Home Premium x64)

Thanks, this was really helpful. My brothers computer received a wollop from "Nothing" and everything went topsy turvy. After deleting all of the viruses from said "Nothing" we still had to repair his DNSapi.dll.

Because of the nature of the viruses, I was no longer able to work on his computer remotely. This has been an agonizing time for me.

The virus specifically linked to this issue was Win32/Patched.AP

If you find this virus on your system, be aware that you will have to replace your dnsapi.dll

i had the same problem :(