explorer error

The last thing I remember doing was loading a cumulative
patch for IE 6, SP 1. When the download/install was
nearly complete, I checked IE 6 and saw that I already
had this patch. I figured I'd let it complete and just
overwrite what I had.

When I rebooted, Windows wouldn't load. I saw the splash
screen and ScanDisk and the virus checker doing its
thing, but when the initial desktop image appeared, I saw
this error message:

Error loading explorer.exe. You must reinstall Windows.

Then -
Error starting program
C:\windows\system\SHLWAPI.DLL not found

The same error message appears when I try to get into
Safe Mode.

Using the Step-by-Step Confirmation procedure, when I get
to wscan.vxd and enter Y, I soon see the same error
message.

Inserting the Windows 98 CD before re-booting does
nothing.

Needless to say, I haven't backed anything up.

I really don't want to format the disk. I have a lot of
very important information on my C drive.

Is there anything I can do?

Please don't cause extra work by posting the same post to different
newsgroups--answered in gen_discussion.

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"joel" wrote in message
...
The last thing I remember doing was loading a cumulative
patch for IE 6, SP 1. When the download/install was
nearly complete, I checked IE 6 and saw that I already
had this patch. I figured I'd let it complete and just
overwrite what I had.

When I rebooted, Windows wouldn't load. I saw the splash
screen and ScanDisk and the virus checker doing its
thing, but when the initial desktop image appeared, I saw
this error message:

Error loading explorer.exe. You must reinstall Windows.

Then -
Error starting program
C:\windows\system\SHLWAPI.DLL not found

The same error message appears when I try to get into
Safe Mode.

Using the Step-by-Step Confirmation procedure, when I get
to wscan.vxd and enter Y, I soon see the same error
message.

Inserting the Windows 98 CD before re-booting does
nothing.

Needless to say, I haven't backed anything up.

I really don't want to format the disk. I have a lot of
very important information on my C drive.

Is there anything I can do?