The Shlwapi.dll is a file is associated with Microsoft Windows Shell program. In this article, we will discuss an instance of shlwapi.dll error and its solution.
Shlwapi.dll Error in Windows XP
When you start your Windows XP computer after installing security update MS04-038, you receive the following error:
?Explorer.EXE – Entry Point Not Found – The procedure entry point SHCreateThreadRef could not be located in the dynamic link library SHLWAPI.dll?
Cause of the Error
The above error is generated when a computer contains pre-Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) files and the registry contains Windows XP SP2 information.
This situation, where pre-Windows XP SP2 files are present on a computer, while registry contains Windows XP SP2 information, arises when there is a failed Windows XP SP2 installation.
Typically, if Windows XP SP2 installation fails, the computer is automatically rolled back to its pre-Windows XP SP2 installation state. If for some reason, such as power failure during XP SP2 installation, an automatic roll back does not happen, the service pack recovery process partially removes Windows XP SP2 after you reboot your computer. Also, on restart a message appears on your screen, prompting you to immediately uninstall the remnants of XP SP2 installation, using Add or Remove programs utility.
If you do not adhere to this recommendation, your PC will contain pre-Windows XP SP2 files, and Windows XP SP2 information will be present in the registry. When you install security update MS04-038 the Windows Update offers the Windows XP SP2 version of the update, causing the above shwlapi.dll error to occur.
Resolution Steps
To fix the above issue, perform the following steps:
- Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to open the Windows Task Manager window.
- Click the File menu and then click New Task.
- Next, type control appwiz.cpl and click OK.
- Now, select Windows XP Hotfix ? KB834707 in the Add or Remove Program window, click the Remove button, and follow the onscreen instructions to remove the hotfix.
- When the Finish button appears, click it and let your computer restart. At this point, if you receive any error messages, ignore them.
- After your computer restarts, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
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In the Add or Remove Programs window, select Windows XP Service Pack 2, click Remove, and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the removal process.
Note: In case you cannot access Add or Remove Programs from the Control Panel, repeat the steps 1 and 2, and type the %windir%\$NtServicePackUninstall$\spuninst\spuninst.exe command in the Open box and press Enter to complete the XP SP2 unisntallation process.
- After your computer restarts, install the Windows XP SP2 by visiting Windows Update.
Simple steps to avoid DLL errors
The majority of DLL errors, such as shlwapi.dll errors are known to occur due to malware infection and registry problems.
Make your life simpler and avoid various errors, including DLL errors by installing robust antimalware tools, such as STOPzilla Antivirus and Spyware Cease on your computer. In order to keep your computer always safe from malware, regularly update your protective tools with the latest malware definitions and security updates. Also, schedule regular malware scans on your computer.
You must maintain a healthy and compact registry to prevent DLL errors from occurring due to registry issues. To clean your registry, schedule regular registry scans using advanced registry cleaning software, such as RegServe.