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the past couple of days i have been getting error messages when i try to go into either my computer or my documents. the one i get the most often says "explorer has caused an error in shdocvw.dll" and it won't let me open either of them. i got a couple other ones too, but i forget what they were. i also get the same message, but with "user.exe" instead, usually when i am running internet explorer. i tried downloading spybot and i blocked everything i could. i ran my antivirus program too. i also ran scandisk and defrag. what the heck else is there to do?!
Try extracting a new copy of shdocvw.dll from your cab files first, see if that frees an error message up.
Go to >> Start >> Run >> and type, msconfig and click ok. Click the "Extract File" button and put shdocvw.dll where it says "Specify the file you would like to restore". Click Start.
In "restore from" put:
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALLOr failing that:
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABSOr failing that:
Win_14.cab
In "Save file in" put:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEMClick Ok. It will probably ask you if you want to make a backup and save it to a specific loctaion. Say yes. Once the files been extracted, run the machine for a bit and see if it resolves the that one particular error message.
If you still get the same message go through the same routine only this time extract, explorer.exe -- try the INSTALL option first again, then CABS, and this time Win_16.cab.
In "Save file in" put:
C:\WINDOWSIf it won't let you extract, post back. Should do though.
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it would not let me extract the shdocvw.dll file because "the specified file is protected and may not be copied over or deleted." gave me the same message when i tried explorer.exe too.
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Ok,
Go to Control Panel and find, Folder Options >> View >> Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)"
And uncheck "Hide file extensions for known file types"
And put a dot in "Show hidden files and folders"
Reboot if asked, if not -- reboot anyway.
Now try doing it. Failing that, give DOS extraction a whirl. See how you go with that though.
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also, this is a problem i have had for awhile, my system restore program does not let me put in my own personal points that i can restore from. it just tells me that it can't and that i should restart my computer, but i have had that problem for awhile now. i would like to get this one resolved first. any more ideas?
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In case that doesn't work for whatever reason, I'll leave you the DOS extraction routine. Same principle, your typing the same stuff only in black and white and it looks a little different.
Get your ME startup disk and boot with it and choose "with CD support". When it all loads up and you get to an A:\> prompt type:
ext
and Enter. Let it do it's routine and when it says "please enter the path to the windows cab files" type:
C:\windows\options\install
Failing that:
C:\windows\options\cabs
and failing that:
Win_14.cab for shdocvw.dll OR Win_16.cab for explorer.exe
Now it asks "please enter the name of the file(s) you want to extract" put:
shdocvw.dll OR explorer.exe
Now it says "Please enter the path to extract to ("Enter" for current directory) put:
C:\windows\system for shdocvw.dll OR C:\windows for explorer.exe
Now you get confirmation of task.
Source Path: C:\windows\options\install
Files to extract: shdocvw.dll OR explorer.exe
Destination Path: C:\windows\system OR C:\windows
Is this Ok (y/n)Click yes and let it extract the file. When it arrives back at the A:\> prompt, having completed, take the disk out and reboot.
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Get a boot disk (floppy) and boot with it.
Or make an ME Startup disk.
Get a floppy >> go in Control Panel >> add/remove programs >> Startup Disk tab >> follow the prompts.
Now do the above.
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i extracted both files and now the computer does not even boot up. it gets to my desktop and then just stops.
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I'm assuming your running two seperate machines here sheldon, or you maybe wouldn't be able to have posted that message.
First I'm going to ask the obvious question. Did you follow the instructions closely ?
Did you put both files were they should be, you didn't mix the order up ?
Did you first extract shdocvw.dll and then let the machine run for a while ?
Or did you extract both files together while you were running the DOS routine.
While I typed all the above and before I went to bed last night, I extracted both files seperately and cleanly using BOTH methods on TWO different machines -- NOT a problem.
This morning, I'm visiting a friend who has an OEM ME machine and he volunteered for the same the proceedure and there is nothing wrong with either extraction methods on his box either.
Both files were done seperatley, ie, the machine(s) were allowed to boot into windows after each file extraction.
If you can print this thread off, do so, and run through that DOS extraction routine one more time, making sure you have typed everything in the right order.
That's:
c:\windows\system for shdocvw.dll using c:\windows\options\install (first)
and then:
c:\windows for explorer.exe using c:\windows\options\install (first)
Like I said, 3 seperate machines this has now been now tested on, and 2 while I was posting the instructions.
Balls in your court for the moment sheldon. Try it again. because your options are limited if you have no restore function.
One other question. Have you ever updated the machine from windows update ? In other words did you ever download the system restore patch from the microsoft windows update site ?
A lot of people just grab all the updates and don't check what they have. If you downloaded them all, then you will probably already have the the system restore patch.
Any other details that you haven't posted, I suggest you post them.
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While your pondering the above. Start with some details sheldon -- like the system restore patch question.
Explain, "it gets to my desktop and then just stops".
Blank desktop -- nothing at all ?
Blank desktop with start button, quick launch bar loaded and sys tray loaded -- but no desktop icons ?
No desktop icons but start menu works fully and you can access programs through it -- and they don't fire up ? Or do they fire up ?
Can you access safe mode via tapping F8 on start up, if you get in, what happens ? Do you have a desktop ? Do things work ? What works exactly ?
What happened prior to these error messages occurring ? And what were the other error messages ? Had a virus and cleaned things recently -- then things started going bad ?Installed anything prior to these error messages ? Anything big ? Game perhaps ?
Some to be going on with and need some form of answer.
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yes i am working from a spare computer now. i tried to do what you said again and i still can't get into windows. when windows loads and i put in my info for my windows network logon, because i have a lan with my cable router, windows brings up my start button, quick launch bar, for a split second and then stops loading everything and i just sit there with my desktop background. safe mode does not work either. i tried extracting the files again, did not work. i tried running scandisk and that did nothing. i tried to restore the computer from dos and that did not work either.
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Well it's one of the safest and common methods of resolving a two way error message. Dynamic link libraries do get corrupted and/or log jammed and do need replacing from time to time. There are also many reasons why error messages like that get thrown up and sometimes seemingly randomly.
Which is why I asked some of the questions above, I really do think that the situation you have now is symptomatic of something else (excluding the obvious).
Like I said before. That was tested on three seperate machines and it's a proceedure I personally carry out many times during a week. So I know the reasoning and routine is good and works on a high percentage scale and is certainly never destructive.
Doesn't help you now though, which is why I wanted information from you.
You say you tried to restore from DOS ? Using this method ?
MSKB A 279736 - How to Start the System Restore Tool from a Command Prompt ??
You need to give some background and history to the problems and error messages sheldon. Like what happened before the error messages started. Did you do anything or notice anything.
Are you saying that the problem first appeared directly after replacing shdocvw.dll ? You never actually said if you extracted both files together in DOS ?
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Right sheldon, I'm at work and don't have time to do much and am due for going away next day or so, so I'm stupid busy. BUT, I will try to email you with details or leave some instructions here. Or, you never know, one of the regs might pick it up.
Reading your last response back, I'm guessing swapping explorer.exe has broken the windows logon.
*That's one reason why I wanted some answers above, like -- Are you saying that the problem (desktop failure) first appeared directly after replacing shdocvw.dll ? (or explorer.exe, obviously). You never actually said if you extracted both files together in DOS ?*
If you could get access to regedit via Run from windows or safe mode you probably would be ok because you could probably go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
\Windows\Current Version\Winlogon
(broken that down to avoid wrap)
and make sure it reads:
AutoAdminLogin "1"
But, you don't have access to Run in either windows or safe mode. So you would have to try importing a reg file using the regedit tool in DOS -- Change directory to C:\windows > and type, regedit /?
That's the bit I'm trying to make time for, so I'll either post it here or try and email you with some form of walk through. Unless of course you've put the disk in and started again, or managed to do an over the top install.
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post all messages on here. i don't have time to access my email from my other (this) computer. i have someone local that is trying to help me out, but keep posting.
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Just try a quickie obvious, first.
Boot up with your ME startup disk again and get to an A:\> prompt and type:
scanreg /restore
Space after scanreg and before /restore. Now pick a date before June 12, 2004 at 19:32:19 Pacific. Boot back up.
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