Alex Ruben
How To Resolve Winscomrssrv.dll Startup Error in Windows
That Winscomrssrv.dll error popping up during startup can be a real pain. Sometimes it just vanishes after a reboot, but most of the time, it causes your system to freak out, refusing to load normally. The thing is, that DLL file can get corrupted or go missing, which basically hinders Windows from booting smoothly. Whether you’re hitting this on Windows 10 or Windows 11, fixing it usually requires a bit of digging into startup processes. Hope this walkthrough helps you cut through the nonsense and get that error out of your hair, so your PC can start up without crashes.
How to Fix Winscomrssrv.dll Error at Startup in Windows
Method 1: Use Autoruns to Detect and Remove the Malfunctioning Entry
Autoruns from Sysinternals (Microsoft) is probably the best tool for hunting down stubborn startup entries like those DLLs. I’ve used it on multiple setups — sometimes the error was caused by a bad registry entry or a misconfigured startup. On one machine, it failed the first time because the file was hidden or blocked, but rebooting and relaunching the tool helped. Basically, when you delete the offending entry, Windows doesn’t try to load that DLL at startup anymore, so it should fix the error.
- Download Autoruns from here. It’s a small ZIP file, so no big deal, but make sure to run it as administrator — right-click and choose Run as administrator.
- Tech note: on some systems, downloading and extracting works better if you don’t run the executable immediately from the zip, so extract it somewhere like C:\Tools\Autoruns.
- Open the extracted folder, then double-click on Autoruns.exe or Autoruns64.exe depending on your system type (check System Information under System Type to see if it’s x86 or x64).
- Once Autoruns launches, dial into the Everything tab. It’s a bit overwhelming, but don’t just go clicking around blindly.
- In the Quick Filter box, type
winscomrssrv.dll. If the entry shows up, right-click it and select Delete. Confirm the removal.
This usually helps because Windows won’t try to load that DLL on startup anymore, assuming you caught the right entry. Just remember: some entries might be linked to legitimate processes, so double-check if you’re unsure. I’ve seen cases where a false positive won’t do any harm, but it’s always safer to back up before deleting.
After that, restart your PC — sometimes Windows might still hang, but rebooting after deletions often fixes the core issue. If the error still pops up, move on to the next approach.
Method 2: Run System File Checker (SFC) to Repair Corrupted Files
Another common culprit behind DLL errors is corrupted system files. SFC /scannow is kind of weird but works surprisingly often to fix broken files on Windows. This is especially true if the DLL was accidentally deleted or damaged—corruption sneaks in after crashes or bad updates.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator — right-click the Start menu, select Windows Terminal (Admin) or search for cmd, then choose Run as administrator.
- Type
sfc /scannowand hit Enter. Be patient — it might take 10-15 minutes, so don’t rush it. - Watch for messages like “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations”. If it finds issues and repairs them, restart the system and see if the error still nags.
This process helps replace any missing or broken system files, including DLLs, so it’s worth a shot if deleting entries didn’t do the trick. On some setups, running SFC first seems to resolve underlying issues, making other fixes stick better.
Method 3: Check for Malware or Unwanted Software
Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Sometimes malware or malicious software injects itself into startup routines, causing weird DLL errors. Running a scan with trusted tools like Windows Defender or Malwarebytes can detect these sneaky bugs. A clean system often sees fewer random DLL errors.
- Update your antivirus definitions, then run a full system scan.
- If malware is detected, follow the quarantine or removal steps provided by your security tool.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
Always back up your system or create a restore point before messing around with startup entries or system files. Windows can be a little unforgiving if you delete the wrong thing, but with backup, you can always roll back.
Sometimes, just booting into Safe Mode and scanning can help identify conflicts. Also, keeping Windows and drivers up to date is never a bad idea — because sometimes these errors pop up during updates or driver conflicts.
Wrap-up
Basically, fixing that pesky Winscomrssrv.dll error involves hunting down the bad startup entry, repairing system files, or cleaning out malware. These methods have worked for various machines — sometimes in combination — and should get your system back to normal assuming there’s no deeper corruption or hardware fault. Not sure why it works, but running Autoruns and SFC seems to clear most DLL hiccups for me.
Summary
- Download and run Autoruns, delete any entries related to winscomrssrv.dll.
- Run
sfc /scannowin Command Prompt to fix system file issues. - Scan for malware if errors persist.
- Restart after each major change to allow Windows to catch up.
Fingers crossed this helps
Fixing DLL errors like this can be a puzzle, but these steps cover most common causes. If the error keeps popping up after this, it might be time to consider deeper system repairs or even a clean install. Just something that worked on multiple setups — hopefully, it cracks your case too.