Shell32.dll ? File Information
The shell32.dll file is associated with the Microsoft Windows Shell program. This file contains Windows Shell API programs that are used by Internet Explorer to open web pages and by Windows Explorer to open files on your computer.
By default, the shell32.dll file is located in %system% folder and is loaded automatically when your Windows computer boots up.
Note: %system% is a variable that refers to the system folder on a Windows computer. By default, for Windows XP and Vista, the path is C:\Windows\System32.
Is it safe to remove the shell32.dll file?
No, do not remove shell32.dll file from your computer. The shell32.dll is an integral component of the Windows operating system and is required for the stable functioning of your Windows computer. If the shell32.dll file is unavailable, your Windows computer may not be able to boot.
Shell32.dll Errors
Error 1
When you start Internet Explorer, you may receive the error message displayed below:
?This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.?
If you click Details, the following error message may appear:
?IEXPLORE caused an invalid page fault in SHELL32.DLL.?
If you click Close, the following error message may appear:
?There was an internal error and one of the windows you were using will be closed.?
Cause of the Error
The above error occurs when the value of the Search Bar value in the following registry entry is incomplete:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
Solution
Note: The steps illustrated below require you to edit the registry. Please perform these steps only if you are comfortable in working with the registry. A single mistake while editing the registry may inflict irreparable damage to your system. Also, always make a registry backup before editing it. You may make a registry backup manually, or use a reliable registry maintenance tool, such as RegServe for this purpose.
To repair the above error, perform the following steps:
- Click Start and then click Run.
- Next, type regedit in the Open box and press Enter.
- In the left pane of the Registry Editor, locate the following registry entry ?? HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Select the Main subkey.
- Next, in the right-pane of the Registry Editor window, right-click the Search Bar value and click Delete.
Error 2
When you try to launch any Control Panel applet, you may receive the following error
?Error Loading: C:\WINDOWS\system32\shell32.dll Access is Denied.?
The above error may be caused by a malware infection. To remove malware, scan your entire computer using advanced security tools, such as STOPzilla Antivirus and Spyware Cease.
If no malware was reported in the scan results, check to see if you have Comodo Firewall installed. If yes, then the Comodo Firewall settings may be causing the above error. To fix the error in this case, right-click the Comodo Firewall icon in your system tray (next to clock), click Defense + Security Level, and then click Disabled.