Win XP SP2 crashes after installing update

[gm3suz]

I installed an update for Windows XP SP2 and when I re-started my system I got the following message. "Explorer.exe not found. The procedure entry point AssocGetPerceivedType could not be located in the dynamic link library SHLWAPI.dll" and my system could not start. I consulted a 'friend' and he suggested that I repair it using my original installation CD, don't know what happened but now I have two windows operating systems, my original one which does not work and a second one where all of my e-mails, address books, pictures and a thousand other things are missing. Can anyone tell me how to get back my initial system, please ? THANKS, Dan.

PS: I am writing this note on my secondary PC but all of my vital files are on my main PC.

[jmatt]

1st step is to slave your main HD to your secondary PC & copy everything you want to keep , over .

To protect yourself in the future , you need a backup system , I use 2nd HD & this program .
http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp
Automatically backup files, directories, even entire drives! Karen's Replicator copies
selected files from one drive/folder to another. Source and Destination folders can reside
anywhere on your network. Files larger than 2 GB are supported. Options include repeated
copies at intervals as short as a few minutes, or as long as several months, copy only files
that have changed, and the replication of file deletions.
http://www.karenware.com/newsletters...2003-05-27.asp

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Here is some info to help repair the main HD once it is back in your main PC .

Try going back to a good Restore point
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;306084
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...ng/restore.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;Q306084
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596-2.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596-3.html

Start the computer and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to start.
The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked), and then press ENTER.
If a boot menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows XP and then press ENTER. Windows XP restores the computer to the most recent restore point.

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When a Windows Update Makes Things Worse
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article...,111126,00.asp
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article...26,pg,2,00.asp
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article...26,pg,3,00.asp
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article...26,pg,4,00.asp
Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=842242

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Repairing XP
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
http://support.gateway.com/support/p...50959411.shtml
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=315341
http://www.wown.info/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm
http://www.wown.info/j_helmig/wxppasr.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/repairing_windows_xp.htm

[gm3suz]

Thanks JMatt, those articles will be extremely useful when I get my PC up and running again, especially the back up program. My secondary PC is just in the process of being built and has a very small hard drive, future developments will include a bigger HD and linking them together.

Your F8 tip was great but unfortunately when I try to restore it to a previous restore point the original fault comes back. I have tried going into DOS and tried the same procedure as outlined in one of the articles, about restoring to a past restore point in DOS but still zilch.

I have two HD's on my system and will try and copy as much as I can to my 2nd HD and then format drive 1 and start again from scratch. I have managed to find my favorites folder and copied it to my 2nd HD and now I can access them using my second operating system. Now I have to locate (using DOS) all of my precious e-mails, addresses, docs etc. I will try copying the whole folder My Documents first, problem might be copying hidden files, wonder if xcopy copies hidden files, must consult a DOS book or web site, think I threw my DOS book out. Best Regards, Dan.

[jmatt]

Good luck gm3suz , let us know how you go & if you need help with Karen's Replicator .

[Jamie]

Hi

Do you mean your system crashed when you installed windows sp2 or just an update?

If your system crashed after installing sp2 then this link may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885626

Worth a try

[gm3suz]

Thanks Jamie, my PC Crashed after installing an update to Winows XP with SP2 but that article looks interesting, will back up all of my files before attempting this procedure though. Best Regards, Dan

[Jamie]

Good Luck gm3suz.

Hope your computer is up and running again soon.