SHLWAPI.dll error.....PLEASE help

Question

Hi, I am hoping that someone here can help me. I have spent the past 8 hours searching here and multiple other sites for answers and am completely perplexed! Here is the problem: Last night my mother uninstalled XP SP2 and now today she is unable to reload it on her computer. Worse yet, everything I have read today says that she needs to go online and do this or that...well, when she uninstalled SP2 it took all of her internet connection information off of her computer also. She has tried to use her XP disk but for some reason her computer won't recognise her product key. Microsoft told her that she can not use the disk more than once and this is why the disk isn't working. I have tried all of the suggestions I have found online, such as checking the firewall settings, etc., but each time the same error msg comes up about this dll file missing. As I said, she is unable to get online to find repair updates or information as it appears IE was taken off her computer with the uninstall. I have offered to let her use my XP disk that came with my laptop, but if the disk can only be used once I don't want to risk it. I also have no idea what the 'rules' are about using my disk on her computer. Can anyone here tell me what to do to get her back online or how to fix this problem?? I am not as computer savy as most of the people I have read posts from on here, so please...layman's terms would be a great help. Thank you so very much in advance for any help!!!

mombodog · Answer

'Microsoft told her that she can not use the disk more than once'   This is a false statement.   Dells use a Volume License Key when you reinstall, If you have ever reinstalled a Dell with the Dell CD, you will notice it never asks for the product Key, It installs a generic one, it does not even match the one that is on the COA sticker on the PC.   What MS was attempting to say is you can only use a given Product Key on 1 PC.   Dell does not use Product Keys, they use a VLK instead, a different type of Product key.   You can use your copy to reinstall if it is a Dell CD. If there are any activation problems you can call Microsoft at this number 1-888-571-2048    Toll-Free  and explain that you reinstalled XP on this PC and need to activate it, they will walk you through the process in 5 minutes. Copy the key from the COA sticker and have it handy before you call.   A better solution might be to download SP2 on another PC, then burn it to CD, put the cd in the crippled PC and run SP2 installer from there.   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en  use this SP2

tupelohoney17 · Answer

I have had the same error now on 3 installations.  I am back to xp home edition 5.1.   I downloaded and installed xpsp2 and i.e. 7.0.  My system is now giving me the point of entry error cannot locate SHRegGetValueW file in shlwapi.dll.    I also have a bios error in device manager.  I am concerned about the microsoft link that you are giving...it states that it is for it professionals and for networking use.    Would it be more prudent to go to the exact product that you have i.e. xp home, professional etc. and acquire that download?  I did that today, burnt it to a cd and put it in my dell, it prompts me to use 6 HD formatted disks for a startup set for xpsp2, however, I get an 'address mark could not be located' on my disks.  So, now I am back at square one.  This is all because I wanted to provide my system with the security updates that microsoft said I needed. When I have tried the fixes located on microsoft, (recovery console etc.) the files that they have listed to replace are not on my operating system cd that came from Dell.  I cannot repair, replace or copy, also my windows management system is gone, no information available and now problems with the bios.    I believe in the saying that if something isn't wrong....don't mess with it. I have gone to the microsoft site and Dell and requested a copy of the CD for xpsp2, but it will take 4-6 weeks to get the disks.  So much for file sharing.  I cannot get my Dell 4300 Dimension to connect to the internet, although I do have my ip address and router set up.  This is a mess in the name of security's sake...I feel more vulnerable now than I ever have.  Please assist if there is any possible solutions that are quicker than 6 weeks out or a high dollar trip to the computer guru's...Thanks   Diana

Windows General

SHLWAPI.dll error.....PLEASE help

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