about_rc.dll is an application file from FarStone Technology’s VirtualDrive software, not a Windows component. If Windows reports that about_rc.dll is missing, was not found, or could not be loaded, repair or reinstall the FarStone program that is requesting it rather than copying a replacement into System32.
This guide starts with the safest and most likely fix, then covers quarantine, incomplete uninstallations, dependencies, Windows repair, drivers, and persistent startup errors.
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What is about_rc.dll?
about_rc.dll is a third-party Win32 application DLL associated with FarStone VirtualDrive. Its reported internal description is About. VirtualDrive uses application files such as this in its own installation directory, commonly under a path similar to:
C:Program FilesFarStoneVirtualDrive
The exact folder can vary by product and installation. Related FarStone products, including older VirtualDrive, VirtualDrive Pro, Virtual CD, GameDrive, and Virtual Hard Drive products, may contain similarly named files. That does not make their DLLs interchangeable.
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about_rc.dll is not:
- A Windows system file
- A Microsoft Visual C++ runtime
- A DirectX component
- A .NET Framework file
- A standard hardware driver
Public file catalogs report different version details for this file, so a version number or file size found online should not be treated as proof that it matches your installation. The correct copy must come from the same FarStone product and release that owns the calling executable.
First, identify which program is failing
The error message often names only about_rc.dll, not the application that needs it. Before replacing anything, identify the parent program.
Look at the title bar and surrounding text in the error dialog. It may mention VirtualDrive, a FarStone utility, an older game, or a launcher that bundled FarStone components.
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Also check the installation folder:
- Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
- Check Program Files and Program Files (x86).
- Look for folders named FarStone, VirtualDrive, Virtual CD, GameDrive, or Virtual Hard Drive.
- Right-click the suspected program’s shortcut.
- Select Properties.
- Check the Target field to see the executable being launched.
- Select Open File Location if available.
Write down the executable name and folder. This matters because the correct repair is for that application, not for Windows as a whole.
Also consider what changed immediately before the error appeared:
- VirtualDrive was uninstalled or reinstalled
- An antivirus product quarantined a file
- A disk-cleanup utility removed application files
- A system image was restored
- The program folder was moved
- Windows was upgraded
- A related FarStone product was installed or removed
Fix 1: Repair or reinstall the owning FarStone program
Time needed: 10–30 minutes, depending on the installer
This is the most likely solution when the error appears while starting VirtualDrive or another FarStone utility. A proper installer restores the complete set of files and dependencies instead of replacing one DLL in isolation.
Try the installer’s Repair option
Find the original installer for the exact FarStone product. Use the installer that matches the product already installed, not a different VirtualDrive release.
- Close the
about_rc.dllerror. - Close VirtualDrive and any FarStone utilities.
- Locate the original setup program.
- Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
- If the installer offers Repair, select it.
- Follow the prompts.
- Restart Windows.
- Launch the same application that produced the error.
A successful repair should open the application without the missing-file message. It may also restore other files that were removed along with about_rc.dll.
Reinstall when Repair is unavailable
If the installer has no Repair option, reinstall the exact product family.
- Back up virtual-disc images and any activation information you still have.
- Open Settings with Windows key + I.
- Select Apps.
- Select Installed apps on Windows 11, or Apps & features on Windows 10.
- Search for VirtualDrive or the relevant FarStone product.
- Select the three-dot menu beside it.
- Choose Uninstall and complete the wizard.
If the entry is not in Settings:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
appwiz.cpl. - Press Enter.
- Select the FarStone product.
- Choose Uninstall.
Then:
- Restart Windows.
- Run the original installer as administrator.
- Install the same product family and, where applicable, the same 32-bit application release.
- Restart Windows again.
- Test the program.
Do not mix about_rc.dll from VirtualDrive, Virtual CD, GameDrive, or Virtual Hard Drive Pro. Similar filenames do not prove compatibility.
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If you no longer need the obsolete application, uninstalling it is safer than restoring a DLL simply to suppress a startup message.
Fix 2: Check Windows Security quarantine
Time needed: 5–15 minutes
A security product may have quarantined the DLL while leaving the rest of VirtualDrive installed.
- Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Review recent detections.
- Look for a detection whose path points to the FarStone installation folder.
Do not restore the file merely because its name is about_rc.dll. The filename alone does not establish that a file is safe.
Restore it only when all of the following are true:
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- The detected path is the expected FarStone application directory.
- The original installer or a known-good backup is trusted.
- The detection is demonstrably a false positive.
- A current security scan does not identify a broader infection.
If you are uncertain, leave the file quarantined, run a full scan, and reinstall VirtualDrive from the original installer instead. Reinstallation is safer than retrieving a file from an unrelated download page.
After restoring or reinstalling, launch the parent application. If the error returns immediately, the file may be incompatible, another dependency may be missing, or the security software may be removing it again.
Fix 3: Confirm that the file is in the application folder
Time needed: 5–10 minutes
A valid copy belongs with the FarStone executable that uses it. It does not normally belong in C:WindowsSystem32 or C:WindowsSysWOW64.
To inspect the installation:
- Right-click the VirtualDrive shortcut.
- Select Properties.
- Select Open File Location.
- Look for
about_rc.dllbeside the relevant FarStone executable. - If it is absent, use the original installer’s Repair option or reinstall the product.
If a verified installer or known-good backup contains the file, restore it only to the owning application directory and only when it matches that product’s release. Do not copy it into both Windows system folders.
32-bit applications on 64-bit Windows
Many older FarStone programs are 32-bit applications. They can run on 64-bit Windows through Windows’ compatibility layer and normally use DLLs stored in their own application directory.
Do not assume that a 32-bit application needs a second copy of about_rc.dll in SysWOW64. The name of that Windows folder is historical and does not mean it is the correct location for third-party DLLs.
There is also no confirmed separate 64-bit about_rc.dll variant that should be downloaded and substituted. Match the file to the program that owns it.
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Fix 4: Check whether another dependency is actually missing
Time needed: 10–20 minutes
An error such as this may appear even when about_rc.dll is present:
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Error loading about_rc.dll. The specified module could not be found.
“Specified module” can mean that Windows found about_rc.dll but could not load one of its dependencies. Replacing the named file alone will not fix that situation.
Check the full message carefully. If it names a different DLL, repair the application rather than focusing only on about_rc.dll.
For example, an error naming an MSVC runtime such as MSVCP*.dll or VCRUNTIME*.dll may indicate a missing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. In that case, install or repair the appropriate Microsoft runtime from Microsoft’s official source, matching the application’s architecture where required.
Do not install a runtime simply because about_rc.dll exists. Available evidence identifies about_rc.dll as a FarStone application file, not as a Visual C++ or DirectX component.
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Fix 5: Remove an orphaned startup entry
Time needed: 10–20 minutes
If the error appears as soon as Windows starts, but you no longer use VirtualDrive, the program may have been partially removed while a startup entry remains.
First try the normal uninstall process:
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Open Installed apps.
- Remove the FarStone product if it is listed.
Then check startup applications:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Select Startup apps.
- Look for VirtualDrive, FarStone, or an entry pointing to a missing program folder.
- Right-click the entry and select Disable if it is clearly the obsolete FarStone application.
You can also inspect scheduled tasks:
- Open Start and search for Task Scheduler.
- Open it.
- Select Task Scheduler Library.
- Look for clearly identified FarStone or VirtualDrive tasks.
- Do not delete a task unless you can associate it with the removed application.
Avoid deleting arbitrary registry entries. If the product has already been removed and the startup error persists, use the application’s documented uninstaller or restore the program temporarily, then uninstall it cleanly.
Fix 6: Update or reinstall related drivers only when the error identifies one
Time needed: 10–30 minutes
Virtual-drive software may interact with storage or virtual-device drivers, but about_rc.dll itself is not a Windows driver. Do not replace hardware drivers merely because this DLL is missing.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUse Device Manager only if the error or application behavior also indicates a device or driver problem:
- Right-click the Start button.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand categories such as Storage controllers, DVD/CD-ROM drives, and System devices.
- Look for a warning icon.
- Right-click the relevant device.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- Restart Windows if a driver is installed.
To reinstall a clearly identified malfunctioning device:
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- In Device Manager, right-click the device.
- Select Uninstall device.
- Confirm only if you are certain it is the affected device.
- Restart Windows.
- Allow Windows to reinstall the device or install the manufacturer’s driver.
Outbyte Driver Updater can reduce the work of hunting through many driver versions: its free scan shows what it identifies, while driver installation is handled by the full version. It is optional, and reinstalling the FarStone application remains the definitive fix when about_rc.dll belongs to that application.
Do not use Device Manager to search for about_rc.dll. Device Manager cannot repair an application resource DLL.
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Time needed: 15–45 minutes
Because about_rc.dll is a third-party application file, Windows repair commands normally do not reconstruct it. Use DISM and SFC when multiple unrelated Windows applications are failing, Windows protected files are corrupted, or Windows reports broader component problems.
Open an elevated Command Prompt:
- Open Start.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt.
Run these commands one at a time:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Wait for it to finish. Then run:
sfc /scannow
Restart Windows after both commands finish and test the affected program again.
Success means Windows reports that the component or protected system-file repair completed. It does not mean that SFC downloaded or recreated about_rc.dll. If the FarStone error remains, return to the VirtualDrive installer.
If repeatedly running system commands without knowing what changed is becoming impractical, Outbyte PC Repair can show what its free scan identifies, while repair is handled by the full version. It is optional, and a repair or reinstall of the FarStone program is still required when that application owns the missing DLL.
Fix 8: Use System Restore only for a recent disappearance
Time needed: 20–60 minutes
System Restore may help if about_rc.dll disappeared after a recent software removal or system change and a restore point predates the problem.
Before proceeding, back up personal files.
- Open Start and search for Recovery.
- Select Recovery.
- Choose Open System Restore.
- Select a restore point from before the error began.
- Select Next.
- Review the affected programs.
- Select Finish and allow Windows to restart.
System Restore is not a substitute for reinstalling VirtualDrive and should not be used merely because a DLL is missing. It may also undo unrelated application or driver changes.
Do not use regsvr32 for this file
regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that provide registration entry points such as DllRegisterServer, commonly used by COM or ActiveX components.
There is no evidence that about_rc.dll is a COM or ActiveX server. It appears to be an application or resource DLL. Therefore, this is not a normal fix:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteregsvr32 about_rc.dll
A “module failed to load” result from regsvr32 does not prove that the file is missing. It may simply mean that the DLL is not designed for registration or that one of its dependencies is unavailable.
Use regsvr32 only when the application’s official documentation specifically instructs you to register a particular component. Do not register this file by default.
Why random DLL downloads are unsafe
Downloading about_rc.dll from a random DLL website can introduce several problems:
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- The file may contain malware.
- It may belong to a different FarStone release.
- It may have the wrong architecture.
- It may require dependencies your installation does not have.
- It may be renamed or modified.
- It may hide the actual damage to the application.
- It may cause a different error after being copied into the wrong folder.
The safe sources are the original VirtualDrive installer, a verified backup made from your own installation, or a trustworthy archival installer for the exact FarStone product. Check the file’s location, publisher information, digital signature when available, hash, and antivirus result. A filename alone is not proof of authenticity.
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Common causes and the correct response
| What happened | Best response |
|---|---|
| Error starts immediately after launching VirtualDrive | Repair or reinstall the exact FarStone product |
| Antivirus removed the file | Review Protection history and prefer reinstalling from a trusted installer |
| Error appeared after uninstalling VirtualDrive | Remove orphaned startup entries or reinstall and uninstall cleanly |
| File exists but still will not load | Check the full error for a missing dependency and repair the application |
| Program folder was moved | Restore the original installation or reinstall to a stable location |
| Error began after restoring an image | Reinstall the matching FarStone release |
| Several unrelated Windows programs fail | Run DISM, then SFC |
| Only a device driver is failing | Use Device Manager for that device, not for the DLL |
| You no longer need VirtualDrive | Uninstall it instead of downloading the DLL |
When the error persists
If reinstalling does not help, gather the exact details before trying another replacement:
- Record the complete error text.
- Note the executable named in the error.
- Confirm the application’s installation path.
- Check whether
about_rc.dllis present beside that executable. - Open Event Viewer from the Start menu.
- Select Windows Logs and then Application.
- Review errors recorded at the time of the failed launch.
- Check whether the message appears only at startup or only when opening VirtualDrive.
If the application is no longer supported, activation and compatibility with modern Windows may be uncertain. In that situation, restoring a random DLL is unlikely to provide a reliable solution. Use the original installer and product information if the software is still necessary, or remove the obsolete application and its orphaned startup entries if it is not.
FAQ
Is about_rc.dll a Windows file?
No. It is associated with FarStone VirtualDrive software and should not be copied into System32 or SysWOW64.
Can I download about_rc.dll by itself?
That is not recommended. A standalone copy may be unsafe, mismatched, or unable to solve a missing dependency. Repair or reinstall the owning FarStone program instead.
Should I register about_rc.dll with regsvr32?
Normally, no. There is no evidence that this application DLL is a self-registering COM or ActiveX component.
Is about_rc.dll part of Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET?
No evidence supports that identification. Install a Microsoft runtime only when the actual error names a missing runtime component.
Is the file 32-bit or 64-bit?
Public records identify a Win32 file, but they do not establish a separate 64-bit version for every VirtualDrive release. Match the file to the installed application and do not place it in Windows system folders.
What if the error appears when Windows starts?
Look for an incomplete FarStone uninstall. Remove the parent program through Apps or Control Panel, then inspect Startup apps and Task Scheduler for clearly identified orphaned entries.
Will SFC restore about_rc.dll?
Usually not. SFC repairs protected Windows files, while about_rc.dll belongs to a third-party application. Reinstall VirtualDrive to restore it.
What is the safest permanent fix?
Use the original installer to repair or reinstall the exact FarStone product that displays the error. If you no longer need that obsolete program, uninstall it and remove its orphaned startup entry instead.
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