How do I fix this constant SHLWAPI.dll error?

Hi Rob,

 

Which Windows XP Service pack is installed on the system?

 

You may perform SFC scan on the computer which would scan for corrupt system files on the computer and replace them.

The scan may take some time, so be patient. Windows will repair any corrupted or missing files that it finds. If information from the installation CD is needed to repair the problem, you may be prompted to insert your Windows XP installation disk.

a. To do this, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Command Prompt

b. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:sfc /scannow

The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker (Sfc.exe)

 

Also refer to the following article:

Installing Windows Internet Explorer 8 on a Windows XP-based or a Windows Server 2003-based computer returns error: "Entry point to SHRegGetValueW procedure is not found in DLL library SHLWAPI.dll"

The sfc /scannow did indeed find files that needed replaced. 

I'm running Windows XP Media Center Edition (2002 Edition)  SP3.  It's asking me to put a Windows XP Professional CD-ROM in, and isn't thrilled when I try to use my Media Center CD, saying it's the wrong CD.

Hi Rob,

 

Do you have a genuine Windows XP installation CD (not the Recovery CDs that came with your system)?

You may refer to the following thread link and check if it helps.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-system/how-to-let-sfcexe-replace-damaged-files-in-dll/c38d375a-1eb5-418e-a10d-049934af45be

 

Important: The above mentioned link contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

 

Note: This response contains a reference to third party World Wide Web site.

Using Third Party Software, including hardware drivers can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Third Party Software can be solved. Using Third Party Software is at your own risk.

I do have a Windows XP CD that is genuine.

I tried the steps at the other post regarding SP3 and changing the source directory in the registry, that did not work.

I think I am more than likely going to have to reinstall this OS again.

Original Install Date:     4/14/2010, 9:09:23 AM

It almost lasted two years this time. =)

I don't think there is anything wrong with your shlwapi.dll file because:

If the c:\windows\system32\shlwapi.dll file is missing, you will see messages like this:

winlogon.exe - Unable To Locate Component
This application has failed to start because SHLWAPI.dll was not found.  Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

When you click OK your system will just restart (after thinking about it for a little bit).

If the c:\windows\system32\shlwapi.dll file is corrupted, you will see messages like this:

winlogon.exe.exe - Bad Image
The application or DLL C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHLWAPI.dll is not a valid Windows image.  Please check this against your installation diskette.

When you click OK your system will just restart (after thinking about it for a little bit).

I think your problem is with Windows Live (wloobe.exe).  It is looking for some funcion or procedure in the shlwapi.dll file and not finding it, so it is complaining. 

Have you been using WL for a while and this just started happening?
Have you upgraded or made any changes to your WL installation lately?

I will not be installing Windows Live to try to figure it out since I have no use for it.  I looked at it but it looks to messy for me!

You could get into msconfig and temporarily disable anything to do with Windows Live and see how things look.  If things look okay, then I would think about reinstalling Windows Live or see if they have their own message forums. 

If you ran sfc /scannow and see a message like this:

Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to the DLL cache.
Insert your Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 CD now.

That does not mean you have missing or corrupted files.

That means that SFC is trying to compare the current files on your system against a "good" source of files and that would be your genuine bootable MCE SP3 installation CD, which I doubt  you have - unless by some miracle it came with your system or you made it yourself.  The Support Engineers never seem to think about this when they offer this advice which will not help you anyway.

Even if SFC finds something to do, you will not know about it or what it did since the results in the system log when it finds nothing to do is the same as the results when it finds something to do making it even more of a waste of time.

Your efforts to resolve your issue are further thwarted by the provided link to a KB article that only applies to systems running SP1 - I am sure that is just another over site.  In other words, if you have SP3, reading the article is just another wild goose chase.

I now turn you back over to the Support Engineer.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your shlwapi.dll file because:

If the c:\windows\system32\shlwapi.dll file is missing, you will see messages like this:

winlogon.exe - Unable To Locate Component
This application has failed to start because SHLWAPI.dll was not found.  Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

The very first sentence of my problem/question states that it happens with several applications, not just Windows Live.

Was this issue ever resolved? I ask because I have a very similar problem. After installing a custom program, I started getting the same error message and I cannot use Outlook (the error message continually pops up not allowing anything to be done or IE (it simply doesn't open). I have removed the custom software but the error remains. I tried following the suggestions in these posts to no avail. The sfc/scannow requires a cd I don't have. I tried a new cd that I burned with a downloaded sp3 .iso file and my xp pro upgrade cd. Neither satisfied the scannow program.

 

Also, the same error message pops up now and then in other programs and even the desktop! Any help would be appreciated.

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=6a7e789cab1d6f39&id=6A7E789CAB1D6F39%21311#!/?cid=d7389b68b3a275ad!cid=D7389B68B3A275AD

above is link to my skydrive, I have uploaded a copy of SHLWAPI.dll

download and save to desktop

Right-click the saved DLL file and click "Copy." Click "Start," then "Computer," double-click the "C:" drive, double-click the "Windows" folder and then the "System32" folder. Right-click anywhere in a blank space and click "Paste."

go to start>run   and then type