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?

Many people have gotten relief for this kind of problem by following the fix
described in this article:

Recovering From a Failed Internet Explorer Upgrade in Windows 98
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;249191


To replace a missing or corrupt file with an original copy, you must locate
the file in the .cab files on your W98 CD. Using the machine you are
posting with, open Explorer and select the folder containing the .cab files.
Open the Tools menu, click Find, Files and type: *.Cab in the Named box.
Type the name of the wanted file in the Containing Text box and click Find
Now. This lists the .cab file your wanted file is located in. Double click
the .cab file to see what's in it and right click to extract the wanted file
to a floppy disk.

Boot with a floppy start up disk--CDRom support is not required. If you do
not have a start up disk, make one with the Fat32ebd.exe file located on the
W98 CD: tools/mtsutil/fat32ebd.
At the A: prompt, put in the floppy containing the file you extracted.
Assuming you are replacing a .dll file named xyz, type: Copy A:\xyz.dll
C:\windows\system\xyz.dll and hit enter. Once the file is copied,
remove the floppy disk and reboot. While .dll files are filed in the system
folder, other files may be filed elsewhere so make sure you specify the
right folder.


--
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?