Repairing or Restoring "shell32.dll"

[bolix]

Hello,

I just found out that my shell32.dll is corrupted, is there a way to repair it or restoring it. I tried "sfc /scannow" but it couldn't fix it.

Thanks in advance.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Did sfc /scannow give you an error? Or did it say everything was okay?

Have you searched for other copies of it in the Windows directory? (like in the "dllcache" folder?)

[blued]

On a related note, does the Vista DVD have to be in for the sfc /scannow to fully work? I've used the sfc /scannow command a few times and it doesnt always fix everything, it says to review the (huge) log of what was fixed or not. In XP you need the CD in place for it to extract the needed files, is that also the case with Vista?

[bolix]

sfc /scannow did not work, it gave me an error that a file couldn't be fixed. So I checked the log and that file was shell32.dll.

[bolix]

does anyone know where can I find a backup of the file "shell32.dll". I tried the DVD but can't find it. I also tried to look for the folder "dllcache" but can't find it on my computer.

[whYeNQue]

try googling for shell32.dll you might find some interesting pages about it and even a download link. but i'm not saying that it will fix anything.

i think dllcache is a windows protected hidden folder, so in windows explorer click tools - > folder options then the view tab, scroll down and click show hidden files and folders, and then scroll down more and untick hide protected operating system files (i dont care if its recommended or not) and voila! it should now be accessible in your system32 folder e.g. C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache

a point to think about is that if your shell32.dll is corrupt, windows trys to replace it with one from there if it feels that the one that is in place is not part of the 'original windows install'

good luck mate, be careful!

EDIT: damn just realised i was talking about win XP and don't know if its same as vista

[bolix]

It isn't the same as Vista, I already tried "C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache" but it isn't the same. I also tried to look for shell32.dll for windows vista, but no luck.

[bolix]

I think I'm getting something, just found this file:

x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_69f268e21510dceb_shell32.dll_0d29dca9

the location of this file was

C:\Windows\winsxs\Backup

It has the same size as my shell32.dll file.

Should I copy this file, rename it shell32.dll and replace it with the original corrupted one. If so, how can I do this?

[bolix]

Used DOS to replace the file. But it seems that the backup was damaged as well. I still get the same problem with sfc /scannow. Btw, the error I get is this:

2007-05-10 17:53:31, Info				  CSI	0000014c [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"shell32.dll" of Microsoft-Windows-shell32, Version = 6.0.6000.16386, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, hash mismatch

Edited May 10, 2007 by bolix

[ScottKin]

Used DOS to replace the file. But it seems that the backup was damaged as well. I still get the same problem with sfc /scannow. Btw, the error I get is this:

2007-05-10 17:53:31, Info				  CSI	0000014c [SR] Cannot repair member file [l:22{11}]"shell32.dll" of Microsoft-Windows-shell32, Version = 6.0.6000.16386, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL (0), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral in the store, hash mismat

Looks to me like you did copy the shell32.dll over, but that the original hashing done during install and the hashing of the one you copied over doesn't match. If the hash doesn't match, you'll get that assertion you saw above my comments.

Although the sizes appear to be the same, the contents of the files don't match.

Are you able to run anything at all, or does your system just crash at startup?

--ScottKin

[bolix]

Everything works fine, except for the included games and the games explorer. The games don't work at all and the games explorer opens and closes immediately.

[bolix]

Just got shell32.dll from the Vista dvd, and replaced it. Still have the same problem. It keeps saying that it is corrupted, it's driving me nuts. Any ideas?

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Well, the one from the disc may not be the newest version. I don't know for sure, but it may have been updated in a Windows Update patch.

[bolix]

You are right Brandon, latest version is 6.0.6000.20532, and the one on the cd is 6.0.6000.16386. Anyone got the 6.0.6000.20532 version??