Have you experienced a startup error that preventing you from using your computer correctly? If you’re a Windows 10 user, the most likely error you’ve faced has to do with the SysMenu.dll file. You’ll find a message stating that the SysMenu.dll module couldn’t be found.

Often, you’ll find this problem if you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10.

The good news is, using our solutions, you’ll conveniently resolve the SysMenu.dll error.

But first, note that this is a similar error to the rundll error on start-up in Windows 10. In fact, the tips on how to fix the rundll error on startup in Windows 10 are quite similar to the fixes for SysMenu.dll error on Windows 10.

Moreover, these solutions will also fix sysmenu.dll is missing on Windows 10.

1st Solution: Remove SysMenu.dll

Scheduled tasks may be the cause of your SysMenu.dll error.

Therefore, finding and removing those tasks will fix the problem. Follow these steps to do that:

  1. Go to your computer and locate the directory path C: > Windows > System32 > Tasks.
  2. In the Tasks directory, locate the Smupdate file. You’ll either find it in the Microsoft > Windows > Maintenance or Microsoft > Windows > Multimedia folder (you can use the search tab to find it faster).
  3. When you find the Smupdate file, simply delete it.

After doing that, check if the problem persists.

If you still get the SysMenu.dll error, proceed with the next solution.

2nd Solution: Use Auslogics Registry Cleaner

If you want an automated system to clear out the Smupdate file, you can use Auslogics Registry Cleaner. The software is free and highly effective.

The tool clears out invalid entries found in the Windows registry. This will not only help clear out the Smupdate file but also restore your PC to smooth operation and high performance. That’s because it also removes old and unnecessary files that clog up your computer.

This should resolve the problem. If not, proceed to the next solution.

3rd Solution: Perform a Clean Boot

In some instances, third-party startup applications may be the cause of the SysMenu.dll error. Therefore, finding and eliminating the problematic application will fix the problem.

You’ll achieve that by performing a clean boot.

Follow these steps:

  1. Press both the Windows key and R. Then type msconfig in the popup window. Press Enter or click OK.
  2. A new window labeled System Configuration appears. Click on the Services tab, and then check the option Hide all Microsoft Services. Now, click the Disable button, which will disable those services.
  3. Now, go to the Startup tab. Here, click Open Task Manager.
  4. The Task Manager window comes up, and you’ll see a list of all startup applications. Go to each entry, right-click it, and select Disable.
  5. Once you’ve disabled all the startup applications, go back to the System Configuration window. Click Apply to save the changes. Then click OK.

You now need to restart your PC to see if the problem is resolved.

If you don’t get the SysMenu.dll error anymore, clearly one or more of the startup applications were the problem.

You can find out which particular startup application caused the error by re-enabling the apps one by one. Restart your PC each time you re-enable an application. If the error appears after re-enabling one of the applications, that application is the source of the problem.

In case this doesn’t help, you can still try the next solution.

4th Solution: Copy the Sysmenu.Dll File to the Proper Location

Another cause of the SysMenu.dll error is the file not being in the correct location. Hence, relocating the file to the proper directory will solve this problem.

You can simply copy the file to these directories:

  • C: Program Files (x86)
  • C: Program Files

You may find the SysMenu.dll file in the following directory path: Windows.old > Program files > Common files > System. Since the directory Windows.old will no longer be accessible after a couple of days following the Windows upgrade, you should take action fast.

If the problem isn’t the wrong location of the error file, you can try the next solution.

5th Solution: Scan your PC using Auslogics Anti-Malware

One other cause of the error could be malware.

To deal with this case, you need to scan your PC and eliminate any malware you find. This can be done effectively using Auslogics Anti-Malware. This is powerful anti-malware software that can detect issues that your regular anti-virus may misses.

The great thing about Auslogics Anti-Malware is it offers more than just malware detection and elimination. It performs multiple functions, including:

  1. Checking your system memory for malicious programs.
  2. Detecting cookies that track your online activity.
  3. Checking for security issues in your system temporary folders.
  4. Analyzing suspicious registry entries.
  5. Analyzing auto-start items.
  6. Checking the safety of programs with auto-start mode.
  7. Scanning for data leaks in browser extensions.

Hence, you’ll not only eliminate the malware causing your SysMenu.dll error but also remove all other threats However, if the problem isn’t caused by malware, you can proceed to the next solution.

6th Solution: Remove Problematic Applications

The third-party applications you have installed on your PC can also cause the SysMenu.dll error. Usually, the culprit is the most recent application that you have installed on your computer.

In this case, you have to uninstall the application completely – not just uninstall it from the Control Panel. You also have to remove its registry files and other temporary files related to it.

Obviously, the first step is uninstalling the software. To do that, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Windows Start icon. In the menu page, select the Control Panel.
  2. When the Control Panel window opens up, go to Programs and click on Uninstall a program.
  3. The window to change or uninstall a program will open up, and you can locate the application you want to remove.
  4. When you highlight the program you want to uninstall, you can then click on the Uninstall/ Change option on top of the program list.
  5. You’ll get a guided interface to uninstall the program. Follow it until the program is uninstalled.

In some instances, the application you want to remove may not be listed in the options for uninstalling a program in your Control Panel. In this situation, you can use a special option to turn a Windows feature on or off. This option is on the left part of the Programs window.

Follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Windows Start icon. In the Windows start menu page, locate and select the Control Panel.
  2. On the Control Panel, click on Programs. Go to Turn Windows features on or off. Click on it.
  3. You may be required to provide an Administrator password before you can turn the Windows feature on or off.

After uninstalling the application, you still haven’t completely eliminated all aspects related to the application. There could still be registry files related to it. You need to remove those too.

Follow these steps to do that (be extremely careful in this process since mistakes in the registry files can completely ruin your Windows operating system. You should back up the registry files just in case something goes wrong):

  1. Click on the Windows Start icon. In the search option, enter regedit.
  2. Select regedit in the search results. The registry editor window will open up.
  3. At this point, you can back up the registry.
  4. Now, on the left part, click on the plus sign beside these file names: HKEY LOCAL MACHINE, SOFTWARE, MICROSOFT, WINDOWS, CURRENT VERSION, and UNINSTALL.
  5. Under the Uninstall file, select the name of the application you want to remove.
  6. Having selected the application’s name, go to the right pane and double-click UninstallString.
  7. In the Value data field, select the whole text.
  8. Now, right-click the text you have highlighted. Then click copy.
  9. Click Cancel. Close the Registry editor window.
  10. Now go and click on the Windows Start icon.
  11. In the search box, paste the text you copied from the registry editor.
  12. Press Enter and follow the guided interface to uninstall the application.

You can take it one step further by going ahead to empty the temporary folder too.

Emptying the temporary folder is safe, so you shouldn’t worry about affecting your computer or backing up the files. However, if you get an error when deleting the files in the temp folder, you should leave the file, since the file may be using a Windows service.

You can locate the temporary folder by going to the Windows start page and typing temp in the search box. When you click enter, you’ll get the temporary folder window opening up, and you can locate the application you want to remove.

If the application was the source of your error, the error will no longer appear. If not, you’ll need to try the next solution.

7th Solution: Modify Your System Registry

Your system registry may be the cause of the SysMenu.dll error.

To fix this error, you’ll need to remove the SysMenu.dll file entries from your system registry.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Press both the Windows key and R. This opens the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit, and then click OK or press Enter. This opens up the registry editor.
  3. In the right pane of the registry editor, look for sysmenu.dll. Whatever values of the sysmenu.dll that you find, delete them.

But you’re probably wondering, “How do I find sysmenu.dll? You can look for the sysmenu.dll file in the following location paths:

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > Current Version > Run
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > Current Version > Run

After your removing the values related to the sysmenu.dll file, the problem is likely solved.

One of the solutions above will surely work for you.

But you can also apply multiple solutions, in case you want to avoid future problems on your computer. For instance, running an anti-malware scan is always beneficial, whether you have a known threat or not.