Shell32.dll not found - xp problem

[brinky2006]

I have a laptop which posts, and goes through the xp boot sequence etc. Once I have entered XP, before being able to select a user, I am presented with a first message:

Header: winlogon.exe - Unable To Locate Component
Body: The application has failed to start because SHELL32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

I click OK, and then presented with a second message:

Header: User Inteface Failure
Body: The Logon User Interface DLL msgina.dll failed to load. Contact your system administrator to replace the DLL or restore the original DLL.

The laptop is a Satellite A40-151, running Window XP Home Edition.

Any ideas?

Adam

 

[PC eye]

The shell32.dll is a library that has the Windows shell API functions. If you can get online with the laptop you can run a free scan for shell32.dll at http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/dlllibrary/shell32/

Microsoft points to the msgina.dll error as a temp folder being seen as encrypted when it isn't. The possible cause and recommendation for a security fix is seen at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836683 One tool that could also be help there will need the Windows recovery disk or access to the I386 folder in order to run the system file checker. With the disk in the drive you simply type "sfc /scannow" in at the Run prompt.

 

[brinky2006]

Ive tried the sfc /scannow at the recovery console comand prompt, using a Windows XP Pro OEM disk. Am i doing this in the right place?

I cant get any further than the two messages, as the laptop reboots after the second message.

Any ideas?

 

[PC eye]

The Run prompt while Windows is running would be the place for that if you can reach the desktop. Have you tried the F8 options of the last known that worked or safe mode? Another thing to try at the safe mode command prompt only console is to start the system restore feature from the manual prompt there.

The last option before a full reinstall is the repair install method if a system restore fails or you don't have any good restore points to use. For a manual start of the system restore the way you see it here without quotes has to typed in at the safe mode command prompt where you press the enter/return after. "%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe" The MS page for this is seen at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449