Why won't my computer load after error?

after my computer asks for the password on the startup, there is a pop up that says 'explorer has performed an illegal operation' and then the computer stops loading and does nothing. what is wrong?

This question was answered on April 15, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

This behavior can occur if the Shdocvw.dll file is missing, damaged or the wrong version

The Shdocvw.dll file included with Internet Explorer 5 for Windows 95/98 is found in: Internet Explorer 5 (Downloaded or Internet Explorer 5 CD-ROM):

IE_1.CAB contained in the IE_S1.CAB signed Cabinet file

Internet Explorer 5 on Microsoft Office 2000 CD-ROM 1:

IE_1.CAB contained in the \IE5\EN\IE_S1.CAB signed Cabinet file

Windows 98 Second Edition CD-ROM:

\WIN98\WIN98_41.CAB

The Shdocvw.dll file in Internet Explorer 5 for Windows NT is found in: Internet Explorer 5 (Downloaded or Internet Explorer 5 CD-ROM):

IENT_2.CAB contained in the IENT_S2.CAB signed Cabinet file

Internet Explorer 5 on Office 2000 CD-ROM 1:

IENT_2.CAB contained in the \IE5\EN\IENT_S2.CAB signed Cabinet file

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, follow the appropriate steps below for the version of Internet Explorer you are using:

Windows 98

Restart Windows 98, press and hold CTRL, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER

ren <drive>:\<windows>\system\shdocvw.dll shdocvw.old

where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Windows folder is located, and <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed For example:

ren c:\windows\system\shdocvw.dll shdocvw.old

NOTE: This procedure assumes you do not have a Shdocvw.old file already located on your hard disk If this file already exists, use a file name extension that is not currently in use

Extract the Shdocvw.dll file from the correct media source to the Windows\System folder For information about how to do so, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

NOTE: If you are unable to access your CD-ROM drive at a command prompt, you need to load the real-mode CD-ROM driver and real-mode Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions driver (Mscdex.exe), in your Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

135174 Cannot Access CD-ROM Drive from MS-DOS Mode or Command Prompt

Restart your computer

Internet Explorer for Windows 95

Restart Windows 95, press the F8 key when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER

ren <drive>:\<windows>\system\shdocvw.dll shdocvw.old

where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Windows folder is located, and <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed For example:

ren c:\windows\system\shdocvw.dll shdocvw.old

NOTE: This procedure assumes you do not have a Shdocvw.old file already located on your hard disk If this file already exists, use a file name extension that is not currently in use

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER

extract /l <path1> <path2>\ie4_s3.cab ie4_3.cab

where <path1> is the path to the folder to which to extract the Ie4_3.cab cabinet file, and <path2> is the path to the folder in which the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files are located

NOTE: If you downloaded Internet Explorer 4.0 from the Internet, <path2> is location of the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files on your hard disk If you installed Internet Explorer 4.0 from a CD-ROM, <path2> is the path to the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files on your Internet Explorer 4.0 CD-ROM

NOTE: If you are unable to access your CD-ROM drive in MS-DOS mode, you need to load the real-mode CD-ROM driver and real-mode Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions driver (Mscdex.exe), in your Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

135174 Cannot Access CD-ROM Drive from MS-DOS Mode or Command Prompt

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER

extract /l <path1> <path2>\ie4_3.cab shdocvw.dll

where <path1> is the location of the Windows\System folder, <path2> is the path to the folder in which the Ie4_3.cab cabinet file (extracted in Step 3 above) is located

Restart your computer

Internet Explorer for Windows NT 4.0

Click OK to close the Dr Watson error dialog box

Press CTRL ALT DELETE, and then click Task Manager to start Windows NT Task Manager

On the Options menu, click Always On Top to clear the check mark

On the File menu, click New Task (Run...)

Type cmd and then click OK

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER

ren <drive>:\<windows>\system32\shdocvw.dll shdocvw.old

where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Windows NT folder is located, and <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows NT is installed For example:

ren c:\winnt\system32\shdocvw.dll shdocvw.old

NOTE: This procedure assumes you do not have a file named Shdocvw.old If you do have a file by this name, use a file name extension that is not currently in use

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER

extract /l <path1> <path2>\ie4nt_s2.cab ie4nt_2.cab

where <path1> is the path to the folder to which to extract the Ie4nt_2.cab cabinet file, and <path2> is the path to the folder in which the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files are located

NOTE: If you downloaded Internet Explorer 4.0 from the Internet, <path2> is location of the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files on your hard disk If you installed Internet Explorer 4.0 from a CD-ROM, <path2> is the path to the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files on your Internet Explorer 4.0 CD-ROM

At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER

extract /l <path1> <path2>\ie4nt_2.cab shdocvw.dll

where <path1> is the location of the Winnt\System32 folder, <path2> is the path to the folder in which the ie4nt_2.cab cabinet file (extracted in Step 3 above) is located

At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER

On the File menu, click Exit Task Manager

Press CTRL ALT DELETE, and then click Shutdown

Click Shutdown And Restart.

About the author

Posted by Student of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on April 15, 2004

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