Hi, Sorry to post, but I have searched.

I have an HP desktop with Win98 that recently had a "missing shlwapi.dll ... Explorer.exe performed an illegal operation.... reinstall windows..."

I have tried placing several versions of shlwapi.dll into \windows\system, and I get just a little further, but it still will not boot.

I can ONLY boot to a DOS prompt.

I have already gone through HP support, done a scandisk, done an fdisk /(can't remember), and some other things they recommended. ( I have a transcript of the on-line chat with HP Support with the details - I can share them if they are of interest)

I have the ORIGINAL "HP Recovery" CD's, but something must be corrupted, because Recovery.exe says "this computer does not match these Recovery CD's".

I bought this PC new, and have all the documentation and Windows COA, etc.

The only change I can recall being made to the hardware is that I added a 2nd CD drive.

Please help me. I am willing to reintall Windows and lose anything on the hard drive.

(It just does not make economic sense to buy and install XP Home - better to buy a new computer if I cannot resurrect this one).

Thanks,

Bob

If the second hard disk was the only change from the original "factory" hardware, open the case and remove the power and data cables from the (added) CDROM drive. Then try your recovery CD's.

Once 98 is back, then add the CDROM to the machine/windows.

Post back with your results.

Dan - thanks. I only added a 2nd CD RW drive, no 2nd hard drive. Do I still need to disconnect it?

Oh. I also added memory up to 192MB RAM. But that's it! (I sound like Steve Martin in "The Jerk").

Thanks again,

Bob

Sorry, my mistake/typo. I meant the CDROM. Disconnect anything you know that wasn't factory installed. If it's only the CDROM, then disconnect the power and data cables from the drive. The bios I'm assuming is set for auto detect so there should be no hold ups there.

If the added memory counts up fully on the initial screen, that's set.

Dan,

Thanks for your reply. Due to the holidays, I just opened the computer up today. I'll give your advice a try and see what I can find out. Might be a couple of days. My first attempt has not yielded any results beyond where I was before. Can't for the life of me figure out why it won't recognize my recovery CD's. Can't believe Windows Update would have made that many changes, but who knows.

Thanks, stay tuned.

No luck. I disconnected the new CD-RW drive, took off the network card, and removed the memory that I had added. Still, it won't boot up on the Recovery CD. There is a recovery.exe program on the C: hard drive that I can run, but it reads the CD very briefly and then says that it's not the CD that came with the computer. I bought all of this new, so it's definitely the right Recovery CD.

Any ideas?

"... reads the CD very briefly and then says that it's not the CD that came with the computer. I bought all of this new, so it's definitely the right Recovery CD."

The system configuration must match the way the machine came from the factory. If the recovery program "sees" anything (hardware) different, it rejects the recovery. This is one of the ways they "protect" their units. Even replacement parts have to be "Original Genuine Hewlett Packard Factory Replacement Parts", and "HP Authorized Service Only" etc.

If you've "blanked" the hard disk already, you'd be further ahead to run a new install from a 98 CD and use the recovery CD for possible hardware drivers. Although the file structure on these recovery CD's sometimes is very cryptic. All numbers for filenames, so unless you KNOW where that driver file is,,,,

That's about all I have to offer. If you get the system configured to "factory original", the recovery CD should run.

Thanks. Everything IS original, so there must be some other problem. (of course, it's been years that I've had this thing, so it's possible I have forgotten something that might be "non-original". One other thought, is that the floppy drive often will not read a diskette, which might mean it will not show up as installed or something, when the system checks for its original configuration. I don't know if that might be it. It's all I can think of at this time.

Buying a new copy of Windows anything probably does not make economic sense for this computer, unfortunately.

Let me know if you have any other ideas, and thanks a bunch.

Bob

Dan - how about another option. Would the Recovery CD's work if I formatted the Hard Drive? I don't need any of the data -- I already backed up anything critical. I'm just trying to save the machine overall.

Thoughts?

Bob

I doubt it. Recovery CD's usually check the bios/system/hardware configuration. It'll see the hard disk, ensure it meets the configuration parameters (size/type) and that's it. Whether the hard disk is blank or not is irrelevant. Recovery CD's usually format the first partition on the primary hard disk anyway.

If you can't make it work with the recovery CD(s), your easiest recourse is obtain a 98 or 98SE CD. (Or the O/S (Operating System) of your choice.) Unique hardware can (usually >90%) be identified and drivers obtained. Note though, a few proprietary systems (brand name; Compaq, DELL, HP, etc) are designed for a specific O/S. The components chosen for these type systems (motherboard, bios, etc) just won't work with another O/S. A few. In your case the O/S is the same as the factory load so there should be no problems rebuilding that machine.

O/S CD's can be found on the net or in computer stores. This site has an Auction element. I'm not really that familiar with it as of yet. (I have nothing to sell or nothing required.)