Expolorer won't load on startup

Rollo Tamasi

i was messing about earlier with my system and i tried to install a new skin for windows xp and ever since the restart expolorer won't start up.

Windows XPSP2 loads up and just before i get to the login screen i get this message

the procedure entry point SetProcessDPIAware could not be located in the dynamic link library USER32.dll

i click ok and it appears another two times and i click ok once more * 2. I then can login with my admistrator username/password (the only account on the pc) and i get greated by my desktop image....nothing else. Expolorer does not start up. I do ctrlaltdel to bring up the task manager and try to manually start expolorer but i get the said error message once more.

I have sytem restore enabled. Is there anyway i can run it thru the command promot or thru some file in the windows/system32 folder? I can navigate to the system32 folder and load up a cmd prompt.

Ruu_Old

Can you get into safe mode? If so I think you can use System Restore then.

Rollo Tamasi

i can't boot up in safe mode. I get to the screen, select safe mode and then it freezes after that. bugger :mad:

Ruu_Old

Here we go, one from Help and Support from microsoft.com

Start the System Restore tool at a command prompt
1. Restart your computer, and then press F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in Safe Mode with a command prompt.
2. Log on to your computer with an administrator account or with an account that has administrator credentials.
3. Type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to an earlier state.

Rollo Tamasi

thanks ruu, followed your guide but i found out that system restore has in fact being disabled. fudge

what happens if i pop in my winxpsp2 cd into the drive and do an install? does it just install over the xp installation, i don't loose any of my data or programs do i?

Ruu_Old

Yeah you can do a recovery console with xp, pop in your XP cd and then you get the Welcome screen and I think you press "R" for recovery.

Karoma

Make sure you've tested without added hardware. Also, that the BIOS settings are correct. (Load defaults if needs be.)

If it still fails:
Boot from the CD (-v- starting from within Windows).
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm