Com surrogate has stopped working Error windows 10 (solved)

Encountering the “COM Surrogate has stopped working” error on a Windows PC. This error usually pops up when you’re trying to open a file, browse through folders with media content, or use certain applications. Several factors can cause the COM Surrogate to stop working, Corrupt or Unsupported Codecs, Outdated or Incompatible Drivers, Malware or Virus Infection or Corrupt System Files are common. In this article, we’ll explore what the COM Surrogate is, why this error occurs, and how you can fix it..

What Is the COM Surrogate?

COM Surrogate is the executable host process (dllhost.exe) that runs in the background while you are navigating through files and folders. It handles COM objects (Component Object Model) outside the main process that calls them. COM objects are used by Windows to allow various software components to interact and share functionality. For example, when you’re browsing through folders that contain media files, Windows uses COM objects to generate thumbnails or previews for those files.

The COM Surrogate process, known as dllhost.exe, acts as a “middleman” for these COM objects. By running them in a separate process, Windows can prevent crashes in the main process (like Windows Explorer) if something goes wrong with the COM object. However, if the COM object encounters an issue, you might see the “COM Surrogate has stopped working” error.

Several factors can cause the COM Surrogate to stop working. Some of the common ones include,

• If you have corrupt or unsupported codecs installed on your system, the COM Surrogate process might crash when trying to generate thumbnails or previews for certain media files.
• Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can lead to issues with the COM Surrogate process, particularly when handling media files that require hardware acceleration.
• Malware or viruses can interfere with the COM Surrogate process, causing it to crash. Some malware can even disguise itself as dllhost.exe, making it harder to detect.
• If critical system files related to the COM Surrogate process are corrupted, you might encounter this error more frequently.
• Certain third-party applications, especially those that interact with media files or manage thumbnails, can conflict with the COM Surrogate process, leading to errors.

Update Your Codecs

One of the most common causes of the COM Surrogate error is faulty or outdated codecs. Codecs are software components that encode and decode media files, and enable you to play videos and audio on your computer. If a codec is corrupt or incompatible with your system, it can cause the COM Surrogate process to crash.

If you have third-party codec packs installed, like K-Lite Codec Pack or Shark007, make sure they are updated. Alternatively, you can uninstall these codec packs and see if the error persists.

• Download Windows 7 Codec Pack 
• Download Windows 8.1 & 10 Codec Pack 

If you have DivX or Nero installed, you should also update them to the latest versions, as well.

Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can cause issues with media file handling, leading to the COM Surrogate error. Update graphics drivers with the latest version help a few users resolve this problem on their PC.

• Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager,
• Expand Display adapters, right-click on the installed Graphics driver, select update driver,
• Click on Search Automatically for the driver to download driver updates from the Microsoft server,
• Alternatively, you can manually locate updated drivers on your device by clicking on Browse my computer for drivers.
• Follow On-screen instructions to install the latest graphics driver on your computer.

Also, you can visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers for your specific model.

After installing the updated drivers, restart your computer and check if the error is resolved.

Scan for Malware and Viruses

Malware or viruses can interfere with system processes, including the COM Surrogate. Running a full system scan can help identify and remove any malicious software causing the issue.

• You can use third-party antivirus or anti-malware programs to perform a full scan of your computer for infections.
• Windows Security (Defender), which is built into Windows, is a good option if you don’t have third-party antivirus software.
• Ensure that your antivirus definitions are up-to-date before scanning.

Re-register .dll Files using command prompt

Sometimes, the issue might be due to unregistered or corrupt DLL (Dynamic Link Library) files associated with the COM Surrogate process. Re-registering these files can fix the problem.

• Press Win + R to open the Run dialogue box.
• Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
• In the Command Prompt, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:

regsvr32 vbscript.dll

regsvr32 jscript.dll

After running these commands, restart your computer and see if the error persists.

Disable Thumbnail Previews in File Explorer

If the error occurs frequently when you’re browsing through folders with media files, the issue might be related to thumbnail generation. Disabling thumbnail previews can help avoid the error.

• Press Win + E to Open File Explorer and click on the “View” tab.
• Select “Options,” then click on “Change folder and search options.”
• In the Folder Options window, go to the “View” tab.
• Check the box next to “Always show icons, never thumbnails.”
• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

Disable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) for COM Surrogate

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature in Windows that can sometimes conflict with certain processes, including COM Surrogate. Disabling DEP for dllhost.exe might resolve the issue.

• Press Win + R to open the Run dialogue box.
• Type sysdm.cpl and press Enter to open the System Properties window.
• Go to the “Advanced” tab and click on “Settings” under Performance.
• In the Performance Options window, select the “Data Execution Prevention” tab.
• Choose “Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select.”

• Click “Add” and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\dllhost.exe to add it to the list.
• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

If you are on a 32-bit system then select the following file: C:\Windows\System32\dllhost.exe. If you are on a 64-bit system then select the following file: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dllhost.exe

Perform a System File Check (SFC)

Corrupt or missing system files can cause various errors, including the COM Surrogate issue. Running the System File Checker (SFC) can repair these files and resolve the problem.

• Again Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
• Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
• The scan will take some time to complete. If any issues are found, SFC will attempt to fix them automatically.
• Once the scan is finished, restart your computer.

Roll Back Recent System Changes

If you started encountering the COM Surrogate error after installing new software or making significant system changes, rolling back those changes (System restore) might help.

• Open the Start menu and search for “System Restore.”
• Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point and revert your system.