when booting computer i get icons on desktop then get an error says regsvr32.exe dll initialization failed windows is shutting down. i can boot to safe mode have restored to previous good config and restored to yesterday but no help. any help appreciated

Any new hardware or software?

Basically, it means that a .dll file failed to register itself.

Back in Safe Mode:

View your Error Log via:

[1] Start Menu
[2] Help and Support
[3] Pick a Task
[4] Tools
[5] Advanced System Information
[6] View the Error Log

Look for any synchronous entries.

Also: look in your Event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Or: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the source & event id & Description especially of errors that seem to coincide with this issue.
Also check the Information lines that might coincide with this issue.

How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP

thank you for replying. this is a friends computer im trying to help. further info i get is they plugged in a printer that they previously had connected. the printer was always plugged into computer but unplugged from wall. when replugging printer accidentally unplugged main comp power. plugged all back in and this is when probs started. the only error i can see on error log that i dont understand is as follows

source is service control manager and error is the %svcdesc% service failed to start due to the following error cannot start because it is disabled or has no enabled devices associated with it.

i dont see anything in the event viewer that seems associated with this. there are a lot of dhcp errors saying something about lost lease to ip address but i dont think this has anything to do with comp being able to boot. as i type i am having them disconnect printer from comp. to see if this does anything. i tried to remove printer from control panel but doesnt show printer and get an error that says something about a print spool not running?

i appreciate any help you can give!!!

I would remove the printer and its' software.

Print Spooler is the XP service that co-ordinates printing.

start/run services.msc | Print Spooler

Also what XP disks do they have? Or is this a pre-installed (OEM) version?

no xp disks was preinstalled. when try to remove printer it tries to reinstall after restart. cannot access run menu from safe mode its not there. printer is discon from comp.

What is the exact make and model of the computer?

No Recovery Disks were included?

Services are also listed under Administrative Tools

Did you remove the printer software?

Did you use the printer remover via Control Panel | Printers and Faxes?

i know its a gateway dont know model
has no recovery disk
yes removed printer software and tries to reinstall on restart
printer does not show up on control panel / printers and faxes

Try opening the Task Manager. Ctrl Alt Delete

This should give you the RUN function via FILE > New Task (Run...)

msconfig

Go to the START tab and unclick the start up items.

How to troubleshoot by using the System Configuration utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q310560

I will search Gateway for recovery options if needed.

Just posting as I'm on my way off-line for the day.

Gateway indicates that it supplies Recovery CD's with its' computers.

http://support.gateway.com/support/s...2&file=dt.html

http://support.gateway.com/s/Manuals...ps/8511235.pdf

It also mentions that such CD's can be purchsed if needed.

Just posting this as a last resort. If msconfig didn't help.

You might also try the floppy boot from Microsoft:
How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks

If you cannot boot into Windows I would suggest first trying the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;307654

To try to fix the boot:

Assuming that your XP is on C: then:

Type:

FIXMBR C:

then enter. After that completes type:

FIXBOOT C:

then enter. After that completes type:

BOOTCFG /rebuild

then enter. After that completes type:

EXIT

then reboot.

If in the process you are asked to run chkdsk say YES.

Also after the BOOTCFG /rebuild you will be prompted to:

C:\Windows
1. Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):
2. Enter Load Identifier: (Custom description for an operating system loading from the Boot menu)
3. Enter Operating System Load Options: (that is: /fastdetect)

Reply:
1. Yes
2. XP
3. /fastdetect