DLL Trouble HELP!!

I don't know if this is the right group, but this is the error message
I keep getting:
"C:\windows\system32\COMres.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check
this against your installation diskette."
What does this mean? Do I have to reinstall Windows XP SP1? It's an
annoying little box
& there's another DLL error message that comes up with it sometimes. Are
there any fixes
for this or will I have to transfer all my important files to another
computer & then wipe
this one clean?

On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:17:27 -0500, "d. rahim" <> wrote:

> I don't know if this is the right group, but this is the error message
>I keep getting:
>"C:\windows\system32\COMres.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check
>this against your installation diskette."
>What does this mean? Do I have to reinstall Windows XP SP1? It's an
>annoying little box
>& there's another DLL error message that comes up with it sometimes. Are
>there any fixes
>for this or will I have to transfer all my important files to another
>computer & then wipe
>this one clean?

A shot in the dark, there's a registry setting you can check..

Click Start, Run. In the "Run" box type "regedit" without the quotes and press "Enter"
Navigate your way to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Setup

Over in the right pane, there should be an entry named

SourcePath

Make sure that this is set to your CD drive letter.
For instance if its drive letter is D: then the value of 'SourcePath' should be D:\
If it's not, double-click 'SourcePath', and make the correction.

The safest way to do this is if you have TweakUI XP installed. This setting is also available
there, under My Computer, Special Folders. The item is named "Installation Path"

Microsoft TweakUI specifically for Windows XP (It's free)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p.../powertoys.asp
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe


If this doesn't fix it, post back with the other error message that comes up.

Right click on "My Computer" and select Manage.
Expand the Event Viewer category and look through each of the three sub-categories for the red
flagged error records. The date and time of these should correspond to your boot errors.
Double click on an error record to see the details.

Unk wrote:

> On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:17:27 -0500, "d. rahim" <> wrote:
>
>
>> I don't know if this is the right group, but this is the error message
>>I keep getting:
>>"C:\windows\system32\COMres.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check
>>this against your installation diskette."
>>What does this mean? Do I have to reinstall Windows XP SP1? It's an
>>annoying little box
>>& there's another DLL error message that comes up with it sometimes. Are
>>there any fixes
>>for this or will I have to transfer all my important files to another
>>computer & then wipe
>>this one clean?
>
>
> A shot in the dark, there's a registry setting you can check..
>
> Click Start, Run. In the "Run" box type "regedit" without the quotes and press "Enter"
> Navigate your way to:
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Setup
>
> Over in the right pane, there should be an entry named
>
> SourcePath
>
> Make sure that this is set to your CD drive letter.
> For instance if its drive letter is D: then the value of 'SourcePath' should be D:\
> If it's not, double-click 'SourcePath', and make the correction.
>
> The safest way to do this is if you have TweakUI XP installed. This setting is also available
> there, under My Computer, Special Folders. The item is named "Installation Path"
>
> Microsoft TweakUI specifically for Windows XP (It's free)
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p.../powertoys.asp
> http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe
>
>
> If this doesn't fix it, post back with the other error message that comes up.
>
> Right click on "My Computer" and select Manage.
> Expand the Event Viewer category and look through each of the three sub-categories for the red
> flagged error records. The date and time of these should correspond to your boot errors.
> Double click on an error record to see the details.

I do not have the use of Microsoft at all. When I turned on my computer,
the Taskbar & everything was completely gone. I am using the Task
Manager to get any use out of it, but no access to Microsoft at all. No
Start button to go to. I've tried installing stuff, but it doesn't take.
I've tried double clicking on the 'exe' part when I downloaded anothe
program, nothing. I don't have any icons on my Desktop to go to. Now what?

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 13:22:32 -0500, "d. rahim" <> wrote:

>Unk wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:17:27 -0500, "d. rahim" <> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> I don't know if this is the right group, but this is the error message
>>>I keep getting:
>>>"C:\windows\system32\COMres.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check
>>>this against your installation diskette."
>>>What does this mean? Do I have to reinstall Windows XP SP1? It's an
>>>annoying little box
>>>& there's another DLL error message that comes up with it sometimes. Are
>>>there any fixes
>>>for this or will I have to transfer all my important files to another
>>>computer & then wipe
>>>this one clean?
>>
>>
>> A shot in the dark, there's a registry setting you can check..
>>
>> Click Start, Run. In the "Run" box type "regedit" without the quotes and press "Enter"
>> Navigate your way to:
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Setup
>>
>> Over in the right pane, there should be an entry named
>>
>> SourcePath
>>
>> Make sure that this is set to your CD drive letter.
>> For instance if its drive letter is D: then the value of 'SourcePath' should be D:\
>> If it's not, double-click 'SourcePath', and make the correction.
>>
>> The safest way to do this is if you have TweakUI XP installed. This setting is also available
>> there, under My Computer, Special Folders. The item is named "Installation Path"
>>
>> Microsoft TweakUI specifically for Windows XP (It's free)
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p.../powertoys.asp
>> http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe
>>
>>
>> If this doesn't fix it, post back with the other error message that comes up.
>>
>> Right click on "My Computer" and select Manage.
>> Expand the Event Viewer category and look through each of the three sub-categories for the red
>> flagged error records. The date and time of these should correspond to your boot errors.
>> Double click on an error record to see the details.
>
>I do not have the use of Microsoft at all. When I turned on my computer,
>the Taskbar & everything was completely gone. I am using the Task
>Manager to get any use out of it, but no access to Microsoft at all. No
>Start button to go to. I've tried installing stuff, but it doesn't take.
>I've tried double clicking on the 'exe' part when I downloaded anothe
>program, nothing. I don't have any icons on my Desktop to go to. Now what?

Restart the computer. After the Power On Self Test (POST), press and hold the F8 key.
See if you can use the safe mode to run Windows...
If yes, try that registry location and failing that try a system restore.

A Description of the Safe Mode Boot Options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315222

d. rahim wrote:
> I don't know if this is the right group, but this is the error message
> I keep getting:
> "C:\windows\system32\COMres.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check
> this against your installation diskette."
> What does this mean? Do I have to reinstall Windows XP SP1? It's an
> annoying little box
> & there's another DLL error message that comes up with it sometimes. Are
> there any fixes
> for this or will I have to transfer all my important files to another
> computer & then wipe
> this one clean?

The other error message appeared.
"C:\Windows\system32\BROWSEUI.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please
check this against your installation diskette."
In the title bar it says: Explorer.exe Bad Image

I did what you suggested. I started the computer in Safe Mode. The same
error message showed up & there was no Start button there either. No
Internet Explorer. No Microsoft. It looked exactly the same. I'm getting
the feeling here, I'll be copying & transferring a few files to my USB &
then wiping out the hard drive to start over. I can't see what else to
do here. I'm still using the Task Manager to get in & out of this
computer. So you can give me the bad news now. <G>

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 23:42:30 -0500, "d. rahim" <> wrote:

>d. rahim wrote:
>> I don't know if this is the right group, but this is the error message
>> I keep getting:
>> "C:\windows\system32\COMres.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check
>> this against your installation diskette."
>> What does this mean? Do I have to reinstall Windows XP SP1? It's an
>> annoying little box
>> & there's another DLL error message that comes up with it sometimes. Are
>> there any fixes
>> for this or will I have to transfer all my important files to another
>> computer & then wipe
>> this one clean?
>
>The other error message appeared.
>"C:\Windows\system32\BROWSEUI.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please
>check this against your installation diskette."
>In the title bar it says: Explorer.exe Bad Image
>
>I did what you suggested. I started the computer in Safe Mode. The same
>error message showed up & there was no Start button there either. No
>Internet Explorer. No Microsoft. It looked exactly the same. I'm getting
>the feeling here, I'll be copying & transferring a few files to my USB &
>then wiping out the hard drive to start over. I can't see what else to
>do here. I'm still using the Task Manager to get in & out of this
>computer. So you can give me the bad news now. <G>

You should NOT start a new thread every time you reply. It makes it difficult to follow up.

You're right, it appears that you have far too many problems with that system to try and repair.
It would take far less time, and produce much better results, if you saved your important
documents and did a format and clean install.

If you can, download the SP2 update and save it to your USB drive. This way, when you do a
fresh install, you can immediately install the SP2 (You don't need SP1) without having to go on
line and risk getting a virus until all the patches & firewall are in place. It'll be
considerably faster too. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=2575694

Be warned, it's BIG. 273 Mb. Otherwise, get a firewall up before you go on-line to update the
new installation. Your call...

Unk wrote:

> On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 23:42:30 -0500, "d. rahim" <> wrote:
>
>
>>d. rahim wrote:
>>
>>> I don't know if this is the right group, but this is the error message
>>>I keep getting:
>>>"C:\windows\system32\COMres.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check
>>>this against your installation diskette."
>>>What does this mean? Do I have to reinstall Windows XP SP1? It's an
>>>annoying little box
>>>& there's another DLL error message that comes up with it sometimes. Are
>>>there any fixes
>>>for this or will I have to transfer all my important files to another
>>>computer & then wipe
>>>this one clean?
>>
>>The other error message appeared.
>>"C:\Windows\system32\BROWSEUI.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please
>>check this against your installation diskette."
>>In the title bar it says: Explorer.exe Bad Image
>>
>>I did what you suggested. I started the computer in Safe Mode. The same
>>error message showed up & there was no Start button there either. No
>>Internet Explorer. No Microsoft. It looked exactly the same. I'm getting
>>the feeling here, I'll be copying & transferring a few files to my USB &
>>then wiping out the hard drive to start over. I can't see what else to
>>do here. I'm still using the Task Manager to get in & out of this
>>computer. So you can give me the bad news now. <G>
>
>
> You should NOT start a new thread every time you reply. It makes it difficult to follow up.
>
> You're right, it appears that you have far too many problems with that system to try and repair.
> It would take far less time, and produce much better results, if you saved your important
> documents and did a format and clean install.
>
> If you can, download the SP2 update and save it to your USB drive. This way, when you do a
> fresh install, you can immediately install the SP2 (You don't need SP1) without having to go on
> line and risk getting a virus until all the patches & firewall are in place. It'll be
> considerably faster too. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=2575694
>
> Be warned, it's BIG. 273 Mb. Otherwise, get a firewall up before you go on-line to update the
> new installation. Your call...
>
>
Thanks! I knew this day was coming. I have a Dell & the CD that comes
with it is XP SP1. I'll just do a clean install
& then download SP2. Do you think this would have happened if I'd had
SP2 installed? I wonder. I 've heard that SP2 is
so big, it also slows down your computer a lot. I'm not happy but I'll
do it.

On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 02:56:39 -0500, "d. rahim" <> wrote:

>Unk wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 23:42:30 -0500, "d. rahim" <> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>d. rahim wrote:
>>>
>>>> I don't know if this is the right group, but this is the error message
>>>>I keep getting:
>>>>"C:\windows\system32\COMres.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check
>>>>this against your installation diskette."
>>>>What does this mean? Do I have to reinstall Windows XP SP1? It's an
>>>>annoying little box
>>>>& there's another DLL error message that comes up with it sometimes. Are
>>>>there any fixes
>>>>for this or will I have to transfer all my important files to another
>>>>computer & then wipe
>>>>this one clean?
>>>
>>>The other error message appeared.
>>>"C:\Windows\system32\BROWSEUI.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please
>>>check this against your installation diskette."
>>>In the title bar it says: Explorer.exe Bad Image
>>>
>>>I did what you suggested. I started the computer in Safe Mode. The same
>>>error message showed up & there was no Start button there either. No
>>>Internet Explorer. No Microsoft. It looked exactly the same. I'm getting
>>>the feeling here, I'll be copying & transferring a few files to my USB &
>>>then wiping out the hard drive to start over. I can't see what else to
>>>do here. I'm still using the Task Manager to get in & out of this
>>>computer. So you can give me the bad news now. <G>
>>
>>
>> You should NOT start a new thread every time you reply. It makes it difficult to follow up.
>>
>> You're right, it appears that you have far too many problems with that system to try and repair.
>> It would take far less time, and produce much better results, if you saved your important
>> documents and did a format and clean install.
>>
>> If you can, download the SP2 update and save it to your USB drive. This way, when you do a
>> fresh install, you can immediately install the SP2 (You don't need SP1) without having to go on
>> line and risk getting a virus until all the patches & firewall are in place. It'll be
>> considerably faster too. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=2575694
>>
>> Be warned, it's BIG. 273 Mb. Otherwise, get a firewall up before you go on-line to update the
>> new installation. Your call...
>>
>>
>Thanks! I knew this day was coming. I have a Dell & the CD that comes
>with it is XP SP1. I'll just do a clean install
>& then download SP2. Do you think this would have happened if I'd had
>SP2 installed? I wonder. I 've heard that SP2 is
>so big, it also slows down your computer a lot. I'm not happy but I'll
>do it.

That's not true. For every user that has a problem, thousands don't.
SP2 will exaggerate any existing problems. With a clean, trouble free, new install, you should
have no problems.