How to fix performance issues caused by rundll32.exe/gameux bug

[Karlotta]

Edited the OP to mention the 2 possible fixes, because some people don't seem to see them in the thread.

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[Backo]

So apparently gameux.dll is a Microsoft abomination related to the Game Explorer Windows feature (you know, that thing you never used?). The reason some games trigger it (including Freelancer) is because they're registered in the gameux.dll to be discovered by the system and added to the Game Explorer thingy. But the Game Explorer is supposed to download art, updates, etc for your games and as such is connecting (or desperately trying to, on all CPU cores it can get its hands on) to some server that seems to be very non-responsive. To fix the issue you got to purge Game Explorer either by deleting the gameux.dll files as Karlotta mentioned or you can do the following:


1. Open regedit and delete the whole registry folder HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX
2. Turn off Game Explorer as a feature by going to Add or Remove Programs and "Turn Windows Features on and off" and disabling the Games entry. (This one might not be needed, but I did it before deleting the registries so I don't know if it works without it) Tested by @pillow and it isn't needed :]

P.S. Replicated issue with Max Payne 1 so it is definitely not an issue of Freelancer itself.

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Republic of the Sword and Sun

[Karlotta]

If it's controlled by the registry, maybe a mod-side fix would be to have the launcher or installer or patcher overwrite, or if possible remove, that registry entry.

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[Backo]

If it's controlled by the registry, maybe a mod-side fix would be to have the launcher or installer or patcher overwrite, or if possible remove, that registry entry.

I believe making registry changes like that would require admin permissions on the launcher to execute it (might be wrong). So if it is so can you please make it a one off thing so that I don't have to give the DSLauncher privileges every single time I start it? Big thank.

P.S. As edited above - entirely controlled just by the registry. @pillow tested it by deleting it on his system where he still had the issue.

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Republic of the Sword and Sun

[Karlotta]

Or if all else fails, have the launcher check if the computer is having that problem, and give a message that tells the user how to fix it.

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[evanz]

mines 216 same as karlottas. seems normal

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-...-in-vista/

add "ownership" to your "right click" then you can rename the gameux.dll to gameux

winrar the original 1st

as i posted, this works

[NoMe]

mines 216 same as karlottas. seems normal

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-...-in-vista/

add "ownership" to your "right click" then you can rename the gameux.dll to gameux

winrar the original 1st

as i posted, this works

could you show us poor neophyte that we are, the path you have taken, because we act on the register, it's dangerous, ex: i have already deleted GameUX from registry, without any positive résults

maybe step by step.

[Karlotta]

2. For a fix that doesn't require you shooting down rundll32.exe every time you play, a more permanent solution was found here: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/f...597996108/

It consists of renaming C:\Windows\SysWOW64\gameux.dll to C:\Windows\SysWOW64\gameux so the system doesn't find it. If this somehow has negative consequences for other applications (none were identified so far) you can undo the change by simply renaming it back to gameux.dll. You may have to give yourself permission to rename the file. That is dont by going into Properties > Security > Advanced > Owner > Edit and give the file to the Administrator account, then edit the file permissions so the Administrator has full permissions. If you're having trouble renaming you should be able to find out how to do it with a google search.

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[Gray_Mouser]

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-take-...windows-10 (has screenshots)

[JonasHudson]

Yeah been having the same problem. Won't intialize on first launch attempt, only the second. Then I gotta kill the rundll AND the launcher to get the choppyness and low framerate to go back to normal. Easily crashing too. I'm still using Vista on an old (5 year oldish) laptop. i don't download or play any other online games with it though, haven't done anything different with it. Did this come with the last update? Something to do with the launcher? Seems like a virus has been piggybacked through the launcher or our connection to the server somehow.

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