Dwm.exe Failures with KERNELBASE.dll

Windows Explorer is a commonly utilized tool in our daily computing activities, often without our conscious awareness. However, there are instances when it encounters problems with dwm.exe or vice versa. Regardless of the specific scenario, it is crucial to address and resolve these issues promptly.

DWM.exe stands for Desktop Windows Manager. It is an important process that is associated with Windows Explorer. Although issues with the Desktop Windows Manager are common and can occur daily, the good news is that they can be resolved with a simple reboot or a technical fix.

One common problem linked to dwm.exe is the Windows 10/11 dwm.exe failures with KERNELBASE.dll? What is this all about? What are the possible causes of dwm.exe failures with KERNELBASE.dll? In this article, we’ll attempt to answer these questions.

About the KERNELBASE.dll File

KERNELBASE.DLL is a DLL file stored in your system folder. It is generated automatically during the installation of your Windows OS. It is generally called when launching .exe applications. When it becomes corrupt, you would get an error saying that the .dll file is missing.

Other possible causes of KERNELBASE.dll-related errors include:

• conflicts with newly installed apps and files
• misuse of directories and files
• malicious attacks on the system.

According to some Windows 10/11 users who are having problems with this file, at random intervals, their screens black out and system fans go to overdrive. Others cannot even receive input commands from external peripherals.

So, can this problem be fixed?

How to Fix Dwm.exe Failures with KERNELBASE.dll

We cannot recommend one specific solution that works for everyone. However, we suggest that you follow the steps below as many affected users have used them to successfully resolve the error.

Fix #1: Register the .dll file

Perhaps the error is showing because the KERNELBASE.dll file is not yet registered. To register the .dll file, follow these steps:

1. Into the search field, input cmd. Hit Enter.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
3. Into the command line, input the command: regsvr32 KERNELBASE.dll.
4. Hit Enter.
5. Reboot your computer and check if the error persists.

Fix #2: Copy the .dll file from another PC

Another possible fix to the problem involves copying the .dll file from another PC that is running the same edition and version of the Windows OS.

The file’s location may vary depending on the operating system’s architecture. For 64-bit Windows devices, it should be located in C:\Windows\SysWOW64. As for 32-bit Windows PCs, the file can be found in C:\Windows\System32.

Fix #3: Create a new user profile

If you suspect that the KERNELBASE.dll error is showing due to user account corruption, we would suggest creating a new administrator or local user account.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Start.
2. Select Settings and navigate to Accounts.
3. Choose Family and other users.
4. Click the Add someone else to this PC option.
5. Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
6. A new window should appear. Click the Add a user without a Microsoft account option.
7. Provide a user name, password, and password hint.
8. Hit Next to proceed.
9. Follow the on-screen prompts and you should be able to create a new user account on your PC.
10. Once created, log in with that user account and check if the error persists.

Fix #4: End the Task Manager process

Sometimes, ending the Task Manager process is all you need to do to fix KERNELBASE.dll-related errors. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys simultaneously.
2. This will open the Task Manager. Navigate to the Process tab and look for Explorer.exe.
3. Click on it and select End Task.
4. Run Explorer.exe again and see if you are still having the issue.

Fix #5: Check your system for signs of malware

If dwm.exe is consuming too much memory or CPU power, then it is likely that a computer virus has infiltrated the system.

To resolve the problem, run a quick virus scan using a reliable antivirus software program that can remove suspicious files and fix the problems they created.

Fix #6: Disable any faulty services

Some Windows 10/11 services can trigger problems with dwm.exe resulting in failures with the KERNELBASE.dll file. So, it’s worth trying to disable those services.

To do that, follow the instructions below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run utility.
2. Into the text field, type services.msc and hit Enter. This will open the Services window.
3. Now, disable the Google Update and Skype Updater services by double-clicking on them. When the properties window appears, change the Startup type value to Disabled.
4. Hit Apply to save your changes.

Fix #7: Run the DISM tool

Your Windows 10/11 device has a built-in troubleshooting tool that can be used to fix various issues in your operating system. It’s called the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool or simply DISM.

Here’s how to run it:

1. Into the search field, type cmd and hit Enter.
2. Right-click on the most relevant search result.
3. Select Run as Administrator.
4. Into the command line, copy-paste these commands one at a time. Make sure to hit Enter after each command:
   • DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
5. The entire process may take up to 10 minutes to complete. Be sure you don’t interrupt it.
6. Once done, restart your PC.

Wrapping Up

The Desktop Windows Manager is an important Windows component. Though it is possible that a malware entity has infected it, replacing the real file with one that is problematic, know that it rarely happens. If you want to be sure, check the file location of the process in Task Manager. Right-click on the actual dwm.exe process and select Open File Location. If it is located in its designated folder, then you can be certain you are not dealing with a virus.

If you are still having problems with dwm.exe causing KERNELBASE.dll failures, then we suggest you try any of the fixes we have suggested above. You don’t need to try every single one of them. Work your way down the list and you’re sure to find one that works for you.

Do you know other solutions to dwm.exe failures associated with KERNELBASE.dll? Let us know. Comment on them below.