iTunes bad image error

Question

I have a Dell Latitude D830 laptop operating on a 32-bit Windows Vista Ultimate system.

When I go to open iTunes I keep getting an error that says:

iTunes Bad Image error

C:\Windows\system32\cryptdlg.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator of the software vendor for support.

I've uninstalled and reinstalled it over 10 times, but I still keep getting this error. With the new 8.1 version of iTunes it will now open, but I get another error in addition to this one saying that a file that iTunes need is corrupted so the program may not work properly or communicate properly with the iPod.

I have been checking iTunes forums where people have experienced the same error after updating their iTunes, but they have not found a solution for it. Even if you try reinstalling an older version of iTunes it still doesn't work since the file is corrupted now. Some have suggested downloading and installing a new cryptdlg.dll from dlldump, but since it is a system32 file it can't be edited.

I have also tried using registry repair programs, but nothing has worked.

How can I fix my corrupted cryptdlg.dll file? or how can I access the system32 file so it will let me edit it so I can download a new one?

Answer 1

rebeccmh,

    Since the SFC stated that it found errors that it couldn't correct you will need to an inplace install.  The inplace install will reload all the windows files without affecting your other programs or data, however you need to do a backup before starting.  What you will need to check is if your Vista media is at the same service pack level as your PC.  Below are the instructions for how to perform the install. 

**Make sure you do a backup of your system before begining the install.**

1. Insert the Windows installation disc into your computer's DVD or CD drive. You must start Windows installation while running your existing version of Windows.
2. On the Install Windows page, click Install now.
3. On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and to help protect your computer against security threats. You will need an Internet connection to get installation updates.
4. On the Type your product key for activation page, we strongly recommend that you type your 25-character product key to help avoid problems during activation.
5. On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms.
6. On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Upgrade to begin the upgrade. You might see a compatibility report.
7. Follow the instructions.

Note: If your installation disk does not include SP1, and you are updated to it, then you will have to uninstall it before performing an upgrade install. Start -> Control Panel -> Programs -> View installed updates, then select Service Pack for Microsoft Windows and click Uninstall.

Answer 2

Mike,  

I tried what you told me to do, but it didn't work. When I ran the System File Checker it said: "Windows Resource Protection found currupt files but what unable to fix some of them." It then said to refer to the CBS.log, but when I tried to read it it said access denied. My iTunes will open, but I still receive the same cryptdlg.dll error and error saying that Windows System Components that iTunes requires are missing or corrupted. For this error, I clicked on More Information and it took me to this site: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1593?viewlocale=en_US but even when I did this, I still get both errors when opening iTunes.

I don't know what else to do now. It really doesn't help that my computer won't let me access system files even though I am the administrator.

Is there anything else I can try? Would a registry repair program like Registry Defense (which claims to fix system32 errors) fix my problem? I tried other programs like RegCure and Registry Mechanic, but they didn't work.

Answer 3

reveccmh,

      Thanks for posting to the Microsoft Answers Forum.

If you run the System File Checker it will correct any .dll’s that it finds corrupted or missing.  I would uninstall iTunes, run the SFC, and if it fixes all the corrupted files it finds then reinstall iTunes. 

Here is a link with instructions for running the SFC.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212/

Here is a link on how to remove iTunes.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923

---

Mike Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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