Hi again L391
Sorry I have not back quicker, I'm writing this from work (as my pc
obviously doesn't work) and I think our time zone is way out from where you
might be (I'm in Australia), But i really appreciate your help/concern. Thank
you.
This is what I have/don't have and what I have tried to do to fix.
I have XP Pro with SP2 with current updates until the last update messed
everything up.
I do not have a system boot disk. (although I think there is one on the XP
disc - more on this below no. 12)
Sorry this is a bit long but thought i would try and cover all basis.
1. On turning on Pc it will show the log in screen.
2. When logging in to any user (no passwords on any user) and we are all
administrators, the message mentioned above appears ("explorer.exe-entry
point not found...SHLWAPI.dll").
3. On clicking ok to the message only a blank desktop appears.
4. There are no icons, no taskbar, no start button - nothing.
5. I have put the XP Pro disk in, turned PC off and back on so to get into
safe mode.
6. A number of options appear eg. safe mode or safe mode with command
prompt, debugging mode etc etc)
7. I tried the safe mode - up came the log in screen with all users PLUS an
Administrators log in.
8. I tried the Administartor log in but it required a password. No passwaord
I tried worked (old passwords we use to have or just blank). Logging into a
user took me to a black screen with the words safe mode but nothing happened
just a black screen.
9. I tried other options and nothing happened except for Safe Mode with
command prompt. But I didn't know what to put in so left it.
10. But I did work out how to get to my files.
11. I logged in as usual, got the no entry point message and got the blank
screen. I then Ctrl-Alt-Del and up came the Task Mgr.
12. I was able to see files etc. This is where I can see a boot disk on the
XP disc via exploring - I didn't touch it/try it just in case. So I don't if
I can make a boot disk from this position I am in.
13. I thought I could try a system restore as could see this too. But once
in this I received a blank white screen.
14. I'm now at the conclusion that all I might be able to do is reformat. I
put XP Pro over Win98se, so presume I'll have to reformat with the win98se
boot disk and put xp on again etc.
Again,I appreciate you having some thought into this.
Geoff