Explorer.exe, shell32.dll and internet explorer

Have been working on this problem for about two weeks.

History of Problem, about two weeks ago when Window98SE was booting up got the message
EXPLORER.EXE FAILED TO LOAD PLEASE REINSTALL WINDOWS
I clicked ok and got the blue screen
said something like rebuilding or checking registry and a few other items then computer locked up.
I rebooted and got the blue screen and it did the scandisk
Windows booted up and I then rebooted to Safe Mode
checked things out, everything seemed normal.
(Prior to this problem I did have the Explorer stop responding a few times, maybe 8 weeks ago.)
I then rebooted again and checked out BIOS
everything looked normal.

Problem Everything works normal on my computer
Except for these listed below.
1. When I use windows explorer and try to open a file
I get THIS PROGRAM HAS PERFORMED AN ILEGAL OPERATION AND WILL BE SHUT DOWN IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, CONTACT THE PROGRAM VEDOR

DETAILS: EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in
module SHELL32.DLL at 0167:66801af2.
Registers:
EAX=0000fc66 CS=0167 EIP=66801af2 EFLGS=00010216
EBX=00503084 SS=016f ESP=0220d410 EBP=0220d424
ECX=00007669 DS=016f ESI=66801adc FS=5357
EDX=025dd518 ES=016f EDI=025cd8b4 GS=23c6
Bytes at CS:EIP:
66 8b 0a 66 85 c9 75 f1 c2 04 00 83 7c 24 04 00
Stack dump:
7171871f 025cd8b4 0000002e 024b7aa0 80004005 0220d438 7171a8c6 00000047 025cd8b4 00000000 0220d458 7171a918 025ac034 00503084 00000047 00000000

THEN I get another pop up message
MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER
An error has occured in Internet Explorer.
Internet Explorer will now close.
If you continue to experience problems, please restart your computer.
I click OK and then (WINDOWS EXPLORER) closes
But internet explorer does not, it just works normal.


2. When I create a new folder on the desktop, will not let me open it. ( just noticed that one today) after reading a MS article.
3. Sometime it will not let me open one created file on my desktop called fun stuff,
but now it does today.
4. Sometimes when I click on My Computer and click for instance
dial up networking , it will open, but when I click the back button
same error as above shell32.dll error and IE error
5. There may be a few more but that is the jist of it.

Everything else seem to work fine.
I have no trouble with my internet connection DSL
AVG virus protection works fine.
System tools work fine.

Step I have taken are.
Complete Scan Disk
Ran Virus program
Scaned on line for Trojan
Used Aida 32
Ran System tools,System information
Ran Skybot
Ran Dr. Watson got this during error
Windows Shell Common Dll attempted to read from memory that does not exist. It may be using an uninitialized variable, or it may be attempting to access memory after having freed it.

Module Name: SHELL32.DLL
Description: Windows Shell Common Dll
Version: 4.72.3812.600
Product: Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R) Operating System
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

Application Name: Explorer.exe
Description: Windows Explorer
Version: 4.72.3110.1
Product: Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R) Operating System
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

Restart the program. If the problem persists, you may need to reinstall it.

And under details is gives quite a read out but will take up alot of space. If some one needs it hear on BBS, will be glad to paste it in.

Another thing I would like to mention is I have Quick time installed on my computer. I checked and it was installed on
3/27/03.
With this program I can get into all of my files much like windows explorer. With Quick time I can get into all of them.
Just thought I would mention that. I did not remember downloading Quick time.

When this all happened about two weeks ago
The only thing I could remember downloading was a bios detector
called
PCPBIOS (DOS)
I don't think this has anything to do with it .

More Steps I have taken are lots of research on BBS, Microsoft etc.
Also I have replaced the Explorer.exe with SFC
And it made no difference.
I have not replaced Shell32.dll.

Also in System tools System information, Automatic Skip Driver Agent has some items in it now,
Windows stopped responding while trying to perform one of the following tasks.
(calling a pnp Bios= get statically
resourse information and calling pnp Bios= read extended system configuation data [ESCD]

Sorry about this being so long, but need to state the facts.
Thankyou,
Giffyo

 

Thankyou for the reply broni, Yes I have already read all of those and a few more. Does not apply to my situation.
But thanks for the fast reply.
Giffyo

 

You lucked out if your system still runs. The one that was used to replace ( more than likely form the original setup files ) may well the wrong one. And quite likely if any upgrading has been done.

I think you will need to go back to your original post and follow this suggestion.

EXPLORER.EXE FAILED TO LOAD PLEASE REINSTALL WINDOWS

There appears that there may well be more than one file that is of the ( more than likely ) the wrong version. Just because the error say EXPLORER does not mean that it the actual file causing the problem.

And the more I read you replys the more I see that there is more than just a couple of files creating problems.

Windows 98 can be re-installed over itself without losing anything. Just need to boot from the Floppy so that it goes in almost like a clean install. Just need to make sure in installs into the EXISTING location. ( default is C:\Windows. )

BillyBob

 

OOPPSSS !!!!

I forgot to ask an important question.

Is a home/custom built machine being referrd to or something such as a Dell, Compaq or HP ?

Makes a LOT of difference as to waht can be done and how.

BillyBob

 

Thanks for the reply Billybob
The computer is a generic not dell etc.

The explorer.exe file I had originally was ver. 4.72.3110.1
The one I replaced it with was from my
other generic was also ver 4.72.3110.1

I have done this before on other machines and it has always worked, but you bring up a good point for other users.
Make sure you are replacing the correct file.
I agree it could be some other file or files, that is why I am asking for help.

I would like to locate the problem before reinstalling, if I could.
This will help if I ever run in to this problem again and also help everyone on BBS.
Giffyo

 

My experience with replacing files via SFC. ( not good )

I allowed SFC to replace a file. The version numbers showed to be same.

Rebooted and NO MORE Windows. I gave up on running SFC entirely. ( in fact I deleted the file )

Unless SFC is faithfully run and UPDATED after EACH AND EVERY change to the system it can produce false info.

BillyBob

 

Bios was set correctly. Any other ideas?

Thank you
Giffyo

 

Does anyone think that replacing the Shell32.dll.
file would be to any benifit?
It looks like I may end up reinstalling 98SE down the road but, I would rather try to figure out what has gone wrong.
Giffyo

 

From your original post

That is two weeks too long.

From your last post.

Does anyone think that replacing the Shell32.dll. file would be to any benifit?

No. But you can try.

It looks like I may end up reinstalling 98SE down the road but

I think you will wind up reinstalling. ( I have from the start )

I would rather try to figure out what has gone wrong.

What has gone wrong is that some incompatable files have been introduced to the system. And they may well not be the ones shown.

The above is at least my outlook on the subject.

BillyBob

 

You could check shell32.dll for corruption.

Go to this thread at my post of 22 Jan 04 @ 17.52. The signature given is that of V 4.72.3812.600. If the signature of your file is the same as the above thread then it is not corrupted. If not then replace it.

As a BTW, Internet Explorer does not use shell32.dll. On the other hand Quick Time does.

I very much doubt that it is corrupted. Let's hope that it is!

I have seen Explorer fall over with a corrupted registry. You mentioned "said something like rebuilding or checking registry" in your first post. It is a bit late to restore a registry as your problem is now over two weeks old. If your shell32.dll is not corrupt then I'd try a scanreg /fix in DOS. I also doubt this will help but you have nothing to lose by giving it a bash and everything to gain.

The fact that the current registry is passing a scan at bootup does not mean that it is as white as driven snow. I once had a registry which brought scanreg /fix down but passed a scan. Clearly, with this registry we had corruption that neither a /fix or a scan knew was possible. To be fair, perhaps even MS were not aware of it either. This registry was a bit on the large size so a lot of installed progs were ripped out. This solved the problem but the current registry has since grown past the 'bit on the large size' so the corruption must have been flushed out on the uninstalls.

 

Thankyou gammaepsilon for your reply,
I checked out the shell32.dll. It is the same version as in your reply.
I understand what you said about IE does not use shell32.dll and quicktime does. But after I get the shell32 error
the Internet explorer error pops up. So I have been looking a little deaper. What I believe is what Billybob is saying, that there is some other file or files that are corrupted connected to IE and Explorer.exe. Which could me MANY.

I checked shell32.dll properties and the one was
modified Dec 06 2001
created Dec 16 2002

Dec 16 2002 was the day I installed about 20 updates from Micosoft.
I had no problems back then, up to 2 or 3 weeks ago.

So taking into consideration Billybob's outlook on what has occured, I searched deeper into the dirrection that it is some other files.

I searched my installation history on MSUD and then I searched more Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles and came up with this
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299296&Product=w98

I think this very well could be the problem?

I searched Fine Files for Msvcrt.dll and came back with
NINE entrys.

The version that is in Win/sys is 6.00.8797.0

There is also one in a temp. fileaaa.
the others are linked to programs Seven of them

I noticed the some have One upper case letter
some have all lower case letters
and one has all upper case letters.

Each version has a diffrent version number.

I would like to some advise on where to go from here.
I do think we are getting close . The option of a reinstall is my last resort.

Thankyou,
Giffyo

 

I have 17 Msvcrt.dlls. How it works is if an app requires a dll it will look in its own folder first, then its working folder and then the System folder.

A few years back there was a school of thought that reckoned the newest dll should be in the System folder and every other copy deleted. In an ideal world that should work but in practice some apps fell over at being given brand spanking new dlls to work with.

My full version of the Windows Resource Kit is using Version 4.20.6201. I have 6.00.8397.0 in my System folder and 6.10.9359.0 in my IE folder. If I moved my 4.20.6201 then WRK will use the System version. I am not going to temp fate.

Explorer.exe will be using the System version as there is no copy in the Windows folder. I don't have a Version 6.00.8797.0 so I cannot give you a hash signature. Broni, on the other hand, has so perhaps he can post a signature and you can do as you did with shell32.dll assuming you did a signature comparison. If not then having the same version as me is no evidence of non-corruption - a signature match is.

 

Well now isn't this getting quite interesting ?

I checked a Win98 SE machine yesterday and found 4 MSVCRT.DLL listings.

1 in C:\Windows\System folder

3 more were all in some Hewlet Packard Software folder which should have been gone anyway. I got rid of all if them and now there is only one MSVCRT.DLL showing. The one in the Windows\System folder.

Created OCT. 31,2002. This may well be the date that I re-installed SE.
Modified July 11th, 1999
Accessed Feb. 5th 2004 which is of course today.

Version 6.10.8293.0

I just check the other 98SE machine.

Found 5 there.
1 in Windows\System folder

1 in Grisoft AVG folder ( must be a different version of AVG as it does not show on the other machine which also has AVG.

3 more in the same HP folders as the other machine. These will also be removed as they are not needed.

Created Aug 07, 2003
Modified July 15, 2000
Accessed Feb 05 2004

Version 6.00.8797.0

BillyBob

 

I just checked this XP Pro machine and it found 19 msvcrt.dll listings.

I ain't about to mess with XP ( yet ) the way I did with SE. But I do know that some of the references are in the same HP folders.

And I know that some of them can be removed as they are also in folders that should be gone. Programs have supposedly been removed but the folders are still there.

I will make sure I have a Restore Point and then go to work.

BillyBob

 

With the files in question we CAN NOT judge whether they are correct or not by what others of us have on our machines. My two 98SE system checks in prove that without a doubt.

giffyo

I must ask.

Why are you so set against a re-install ?

If done properly and overtop re-install may well fix the known problem(s) as well as maybe some unknown.

And when things are not correct ( as they are now ) you have nothing to lose.

In 30-45 minutes you may well fix what you have been fighting for weeks with no success.

BillyBob

 

Here is a good one to bookmark if you want to know what information on dll. files. This database contains information about DLL files that ship with selected Microsoft products.


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/servicedesks/fileversion/dllinfo.asp&SD=MSDN&FR=0

For the question from Billybob

I am not so against a re-install,
And I have had some success in locating the problem.
I just what to learn what happened, if possible. If I ever run into this problem or a like problem, I will know whats going on.
And others on BBS may gain knowledge too.
I agree with you Billybob, that an re-install overtop will probally have to be done, but I am trying to gain the knowledge of the troubleshooting steps of this area and of this problem.
If I was troubleshooting some one elses computer, I would have reinstalled way long ago.
Microsoft informed me that this type of problem has occured before and replacing the correct file will solve the problem, but most people would not spend this much time on it.
I respect what you are telling me, but just wanted you know why I am so determined.

I have a question that I'm not clear on.
I understand there will be more that one entry of a dll. file
and diffrent versions.
I looked at my shell32.dll files and I have 7 of them
All are diffrent versions except
My Sys and my AVG have the same version.
Is this normal????

Thank you
Giffyo

 

giffyo

“I looked at my shell32.dll files and I have 7 of them
All are diffrent versions except
My Sys and my AVG have the same version.
Is this normal????â€

No, it isn't. I wasn't aware that shell32.dll shipped with any software. Whilst it and a few others of the same ilk are not carved in stone they have not changed much, if at all, since publication of the OS. For the want of a better description I would call it an operating system file like the suite of routines that are involved with file management - they just don't ship with third party software. At 1.32Mb it is a hefty lump to include with a software package. Zander mentioned a few weeks ago in another thread that "Quite a while back there was a security update that involved shell32.dllâ€. The latest version is 4.72.3812.600.

I wonder what other folks have on their systems? I have just one in my system folder.