We can get some errors like Windows Update Error Code 0x80072efd, COM Surrogate Has Stopped Working, Kmode_Exception_Not_Handled BSOD Error, Blue Screen Critical Structure Corruption, and Corrupt Registry. The annoying error “COM Surrogate has stopped working” can happen in Windows 10 or Windows 7. Most of the time, you’ll see this error message when you’re going through files or folders that contain different media files.
It’s a clear sign that something is wrong with the COM Surrogate, which is an important system tool that handles jobs like making thumbnails and other important tasks. When this process doesn’t work right, it can slow down and make your system less stable. In this detailed guide, we’ll look at a number of ways to figure out what’s wrong and fix it on both Windows 10 and Windows 7, making your computer experience smoother and more reliable.
Table of Contents
What is the COM Surrogate?
Before getting to the answers, it’s important to learn more about what the COM Surrogate is. The COM Surrogate is an important part of the Windows operating system, and the process dllhost.exe often stands for it. Its main job is to run COM objects outside of the process that originally asked for them.
One thing it often does is make frames for files like movies and photos. It basically acts as a bridge that lets other apps use features in a different DLL file. This keeps Windows stable and makes it fast and good at doing different jobs.
Common Causes of COM Surrogate Errors
To fix the “COM Surrogate has stopped working” problem, you need to know why it might be happening. Here are some usual ways this problem gets worse:
1. Media files or codecs that don’t work well together. When media files, especially ones with broken or incompatible codecs, are used, COM Surrogate problems often occur. When Windows tries to make pictures for these files, this becomes very clear. A breakdown can happen if the codec for a certain video file isn’t suitable with the COM Surrogate process.
2. Problems with software from places other than Microsoft. When you add third-party software to your system, it can sometimes cause compatibility problems that show up as COM Surrogate problems. Third-party codecs or media players often mess up the way Windows works, causing the COM Surrogate to stop working all of a sudden.
3. System files that don’t work. Corruption of system files is a regular problem in the world of computers. When important system files, like those that are directly linked to the COM Surrogate, get damaged or corrupted, they make errors like the one we’re talking about.
4. Malware, also known as computer viruses. When malware or viruses get into your system, they can set off a chain reaction of bad things. Important system processes, like the COM Surrogate, could be messed with as a result.
Methods to Fix COM Surrogate has stopped working in Windows 10 & 7
Now, let’s start looking at different ways to fix the “COM Surrogate has stopped working” problem, taking into account the needs of both Windows 10 and Windows 7 users.
Method 1. Update Codecs and Media Players
One of the first things you can do to fix this problem is to make sure that all of the media apps and codecs you have installed are up to date. COM Codecs that are out of date or don’t work well together are often to blame for Surrogate problems. Visit the websites for your video players and codecs to get the latest versions and install them. This will make sure they work with your machine.
Method 2. Disable Thumbnail Previews
As a practical answer, users who see this error most often when moving through folders with media files should turn off thumbnail previews. If you do this, Windows won’t be able to make thumbnail pictures for files, which could stop the mistake from happening. The steps for Windows 10 and Windows 7 are as follows:
For Windows 10:
- Start up the file manager.
- Click “View” to see it.
- Click “Options” then “Change folder and search options.”
- On the “View” tab of the Folder Options window, choose “Always show icons, never thumbnails.”
- Then click “Apply” and “OK.”
For Windows 7:
- Get Windows Explorer going.
- Click “Organize” and then “Folders and search options.”
- On the “View” tab of the Folder Options window, choose “Always show icons, never thumbnails.”
- Then click “Apply” and “OK.”
Method 3. Run System File Checker (SFC)
COM is often caused by Surrogate failures means that a system file is broken. Start a System File Checker (SFC) scan to find and fix damaged system files. What you have to do is:
- Open the command line as an administrator. To do this, type “cmd” into the Windows search bar, right-click on “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator.”
- Type sfc /scannow into the Command Prompt box and press Enter to run the command.
- Wait until the scan is done. If any files are broken, you can fix them by following the steps on the screen.
Method 4. Perform a Malware Scan
Since malware or viruses could cause problems with COM Surrogate, it is very important to scan your machine for malware. Scan all of your system files and folders carefully with your favorite antivirus tool. If any bad risks are found, you should act right away to put them in lockdown or get rid of them. This will eliminate them as possible reasons for the mistake.
Method 5. Update Windows
Updates from Microsoft normally make the Windows operating system run better and keep it safer. Some of these changes come with fixes for known problems, like COM Surrogate errors, and patches for other problems. The best way to make sure your operating system is always up to date is to install the latest Windows updates. This easy but effective step can often fix mistakes that keep happening and make the system more stable.
Method 6. Reinstall Problematic Software
If you’ve found that a particular media player or codec is causing the COM Surrogate error, it’s possible that these apps are broken or no longer supported. In this case, you should remove the software that is giving you trouble and then reinstall it from a reliable source. This process can be used to fix any problems with the program and make sure that it works well with the COM Surrogate.
Conclusion
When using Windows 10 or Windows 7, the “COM Surrogate has stopped working” error can be a difficult problem. But if you read this piece and learn about its common causes and detailed solutions, you will be able to deal with and solve it.
The steps here are meant to make your computer settings more stable and easy to use. They include updating codecs, turning off thumbnail previews, and running system scans. To read more content like this, visit https://www.trendblog.net.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does the acronym COM Surrogate mean?
The COM Surrogate, which is also known as dllhost.exe, is a very important Windows system process that runs COM objects outside of the process that asked for them. It is an important part of work like making thumbnails for files.
When I look through folders of video files, why does the mistake happen?
This mistake usually happens when Windows tries to make images for media files whose codecs don’t work well together or whose media player is broken.
Can software from a third party cause the COM Surrogate problem?
Yes, third-party codecs or media apps that get in the way of Windows tasks can sometimes cause COM Surrogate errors.
Is malware often the cause of this problem?
Malware and viruses can mess with system processes like the COM Surrogate, so they could be to blame for this problem.
Should Windows be reinstalled to fix this problem?
Most of the time, reinstalling Windows is the last thing you do. If you follow the steps in this guide, you shouldn’t have to go to such lengths to fix the COM Surrogate error.
