Solved: COM Surrogate has stopped working

Today when you browse your folders containing video/media files or try to print your files on your Windows computer, you’re prompted by this error: COM Surrogate has stopped working.
It’s frustrating, but there’s no need to panic. Usually it’s a easy problem to fix. In this guide, you’ll learn two easy and effective methods to fix this problem. Read on and find how…

Note: The screenshots below are from Windows 10, but you can also try these methods if your encounter the problem on Windows 7.

Solution 1: Roll back your video driver

The COM Surrogate has stopped working problem is mainly caused by a wrong video driver on your Windows computer. You can probably fix it through rolling back your video driver. See how:

1) On your keyboard, hold down the Windows logo key

, then press R to bring up a Run box.

2) Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.

3) Find and expand the Display adapters section. Right-click on your display adapter driver and sleect Properties.

4) Choose to view on Driver pane. Then click Roll Back Driver.

If the Roll Back Driver icon grayed out, you can download the previous version driver of your video card from your computer or video card manufacturer’s website or, alternatively, you can solve all your driver problems automatically through Driver Easy.

You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes just 2 steps (and you get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee):

1) Download and install Driver Easy.

2) Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.

3) Click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).

Note: You can do it for free if you like, but it’s partly manual.

Solution 2: Add dllhost.exe to the DEP Exception

COM Surrogate is the executable host process(dllhost.exe) running background while you are browsing files or folders. Adding it to the DEP exception list could also help you fix your problem.

1) On your keyboard, hold down the Windows logo key

, then press R to bring up a Run box.

2) Type control in the box and click OK to open Control Panel.

3) Click System when View by Large or Small icons. Then click Advanced system settings on the pop-up window.

4) Click Settings under Performance dialog.

5) Tick on Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select: under Data Execution Prevention pane. Then head to C:\Windows\SysWOW64 or System32(base on your system).