Explorer error / Windows reinstall???

Help! Upon startup:
The system begins to load.
My wallpaper comes up (no icons yet)
Error #1: (White box)
Error Loading Explorer.exe You must reinstall Windows.
OK button

Click OK

Error #2
RUNDLL
(Red x sign)
(cannot see rest of message because error 3 and 4 come up over it and it's impossible to get to)

Error #3
Error Starting Program
(yellow exclamation sign)
Ther eis not enough memory to start SHELL32.DLL. Quit some programs, then try again.

Error #4
Kernel32
(Red x sign)
Typical illegal operation shutdown message.

Errors 3 and 4 come up simutaneously. I used to be able to click them off, reboot with CTRL+ALT+DEL and the system would start fine. Now I can no longer do this. I can start in Safe Mode, but I'm really not sure what I should look for or do.

HELP! Is this the slow death of my PC? Do I have to reinstall windows?

 

No, not really. I would try replacing Explorer.Exe first, it may be corrupted.
If you have the windows setup files copied to the hard drive, maybe in C:\Windows\Options\Cabs. Go into Safe Mode, Start\Run, type in SFC.EXE, press enter. When the System File Checker opens select Extract one file from installation disk, Browse or type in c:\windows\explorer.exe and click the Start button that is in SFC, another window will open asking where to get it, Browse to C:\Windows\Options\Cabs or type it in, and press Ok, you will be prompted to save the old file in C:\Windows\Helpdesk\Sfc, click Ok, allow to create the folder if necessary. Reboot.
If the setup files are not copied onto the hard drive, you will need a Bootdisk. When booting, select with CD-Rom support, watch for the message giving the drive letter for the CD, maybe E:. Insert the Win CD. At the prompt type in these commands;
c: <enter>
cd\windows <enter>
extract /y X:\win98\win98_45.cab explorer.exe <enter> [X being the drive letter for the CD]
You should get the message 1 file extracted. Take out the floppy and boot it up.
Housecall, online AV scan may be a place for you to go when able to get online.

 

Thanks! It worked perfectly.

Well...this old clunker has at least one more day left in her....seven years old and counting! (Although I attribute the longevity to all the help on this board I've gotten jumpstarting this heap!)