LogonUI.exe unable to locate Shll32.dll

[KeesKeet]

Hi,

I am using Vista Business and "out of the blue" get the message "logonUI.exe unable to locate component. Shell32.dll was not found.
This topic has been on your forum before but the solution uses the safe mode with command promt. Alas no luck there. I can choose whatever start option I like but I end up with the same message every time. Ok or x on the dialog box results in restart and the same problem. My hard drive is very active during the first minutes.

Startup from Vista disk is impossible for the moment because this system was pre installed.

please advise..
Kees

[AnnMarie]

Hi Kees and welcome. Unfortunately, you only have two options available and the first option is probably unpalatable.

1. Back up your data to removable media and use your Recovery disks to recover your operating system.

2. Borrow a Vista installation DVD and use it to boot into the Windows Recovery Enviroment. Once you do this, you will be able to use a Command Prompt and possibly even run System Restore which would be an easier option.

[KeesKeet]

AnnMarie,
Thanks, would it be ok if I use a boot dvd downloaded from neosmart technologies. Do I need a specific Vista business edition boot dvd or will any Vista boot dvd work ?

[AnnMarie]

would it be ok if I use a boot dvd downloaded from neosmart technologies.

Hi Kees. I dont know, I have never downloaded that file.

Do I need a specific Vista business edition boot dvd or will any Vista boot dvd work ?

Any Vista DVD will work for you. All editions are on the same DVD. It's the license key that determines what version is installed. I am only suggesting that you use the DVD to load the Windows Recovery Environment though.

[KeesKeet]

well, Vista boot disk created and used to boot the PC. First time I ran the Windows repair utility. startup repair option. No problems found. Starting the PC again results in the well known error message. Upon closing down I got the message "configuring updates 3 of 3 0 % completed" This message appears regularly for the PC has trouble installing some updates. But thet has never yet stopped it from starting up and functioning.
close down and restart.... same error.

But the good news is the command prompt is now available.
how do we go from here?

[Cigar smoker]

When you ran the repair was doing a system restore an option?
If so choose a restore point that predates the downloading of the Windows Updates.

[KeesKeet]

That option is available. However, won't I lose data if I restore to a previous point, or is it just the operating system that changes?

[AnnMarie]

No you wont lose data but you will have to reinstall any software or hardware that was installed after the date you choose.

[KeesKeet]

I tried restoring to a previous point in time. It all seems to go smoothly until it comes to finalizing file restore. The first time I let it "run" for 45 minutes. Then I killed it with the shut down button. I am sure I choose a restore point from the good old days when the PC still behaved. I have started it again with an even earlier point. again it hangs on finalizing file restore..... There seems to be no disk activity, the progress bar moves but thats all.

[AnnMarie]

Ok, try a startup repair and see if that helps although I am not that optimistic. See here.

[KeesKeet]

I already tried that one. No problems detected, no problems solved either.
It still came back with the original error.
Is replacing the missing file an option?

[AnnMarie]

Maybe. Have you installed SP1 yet?

Boot with the disk again and open a command prompt. Type:

dir /s /a "c:\shell32.dll"

(including the quotation marks) and hit Enter. The drive will be searched. Copy back very carefully what you see on the screen.

[KeesKeet]

This results is 20 files found. some examples,
c:\recocer\Recovered [29937]\SP2QFE date (09/22/2005) size 8,452,608
c:\recover\$Extend\$RmMetadata\$TxfLog date (12/19/2006) size 6.340,608
c:\recocer\Recovered [28]\$NtUninstallKB921398$ date (03/16/2006) size 8,452,096
c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\df819877c e1972154...\86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf....... date (01/18/2008) size 11,580,416

Witch one to take and to where do I copy it?

[AnnMarie]

Sorry KeesKeet but that is not enough information for me to help. I need to see all the information you can see and I also need to know if you have installed SP1 yet.

Try the below command first and see if it can fix the problem.

SFC.EXE /scannow /offbootdir:c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows

(that command assumes that C is the drive that Vista is installed on)

Type exit to close when the scan is finished and try rebooting now.

[KeesKeet]

AnnMarie,
thanks for sticking with me...

I tried the SFX.EXE, result "there is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete. restart windows and run SFC again." I tried rebooting and cold restart but same result.

I think I installed SP1 as an automatic update. Can I check ?
Regarding to the info from the dir /s /a (DOS is still my friend !)

Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 6C6D-2163

Directory of c:\recover\$Extend\$RmMetadata\$TxfLog

12/19/2006 01:52 PM 6,340,608 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 6,340,608 bytes

Directory of c:\recover\Recovered [25915]\KB908531\SP2QFE

03/16/2006 08:46 PM 8,454,656 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 8,454,656 bytes

Directory of c:\recover\Recovered [25915]\KB921398\SP2QFE

07/13/2006 06:03 AM 8,457,728 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 8,457,728 bytes

Directory of c:\recover\Recovered [28]\$NtUninstallKB900725$

08/04/2004 04:00 AM 8,384,000 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 8,384,000 bytes

Directory of c:\recover\Recovered [28]\$NtUninstallKB908531$

09/22/2005 07:05 PM 8,450,560 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 8,450,560 bytes

Directory of c:\recover\Recovered [28]\$NtUninstallKB921398$

03/16/2006 08:03 PM 8,452,096 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 8,452,096 bytes

Directory of c:\recover\Recovered [29937]\SP2QFE

09/22/2005 07:18 PM 8,452,608 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 8,452,608 bytes

Directory of c:\System Volume Information\SystemRestore\FRStaging\Windows\winsxs \x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16680_none_69ec6 cd815163c56

04/23/2008 08:51 PM 11,315,712 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,315,712 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\df81987ce 1972154ab659b2f560f1610\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.18000_none_6c292 ade11fbedbf

01/18/2008 11:36 PM 11,580,416 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,580,416 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_69f26 8e21510dceb

11/02/2006 01:46 AM 11,314,688 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,314,688 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16513_none_6a3b1 b4414dac79d

02/11/2008 04:54 AM 11,315,200 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,315,200 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16680_none_69ec6 cd815163c56

04/23/2008 08:51 PM 11,315,712 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,315,712 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16774_none_69fb3 fd2150a82e8

11/06/2008 04:57 AM 11,315,712 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,315,712 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.20628_none_6abee 9952dfc020b

02/11/2008 04:54 AM 11,315,200 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,315,200 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.20822_none_6ab8e ba52e01644f

04/23/2008 08:40 PM 11,319,808 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,319,808 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.20951_none_6a977 d7d2e1a9bf2

11/06/2008 04:59 AM 11,320,832 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,320,832 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.18062_none_6bea4 bea122ac813

04/23/2008 08:58 PM 11,580,416 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,580,416 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.18167_none_6bef4 f42122643ed

11/06/2008 05:14 AM 11,580,928 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,580,928 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22166_none_6c77e 9dd2b44cd39

04/23/2008 08:45 PM 11,581,440 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,581,440 bytes

Directory of c:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22303_none_6cb5c c532b16d3dc

11/06/2008 04:59 AM 11,582,976 shell32.dll
1 File(s) 11,582,976 bytes

Total Files Listed:
20 File(s) 205,431,296 bytes
0 Dir(s) 68,339,277,824 bytes free