My HP desktop computer won't start up. Help!?

Question

I have an HP desktop computer (with XP on it), and I'm having some issues with it.

Yesterday, it was being very weird -- not letting you click on anything, freezing in the middle of doing nothing. Then all of a sudden, an error popped up on startup, saying the shell32.dll file couldn't be found. After that, Windows won't start, and I can't even get it to start in safe mode without the error coming up.

Is this useless, and is my harddrive irrepairably corrupted? When I called the tech support line, their only suggestion was to re-install Windows, but in any event lose everything I have on there. Help!

Answer 1

Basically your winXP is corrupted and needs to be re-installed.
First of all, read this link for details.

Luck.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?docname=c00226733&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Answer 2

I'm assuming you are on a working computer now. hopefully it has a floppy drive and the same operating system you are using now. if not, find another one that is. do a search on the machine that's working, find the shell32.dll file and copy it onto a floppy.
go to your HP, boot it up hit f8 and choose safe mode, command prompt only. copy the file to the Hp putting the floppy in, type
a:
then type
copy shell32.dll c:\windows\system32


my guess is what has probably happened is a spyware or antivirus quaruntined the file so now windows can't find it, it needs it to boot. give this a try before you reinstall and lose your data.

Answer 3

1. Put your Windows XP installation CD into the CDROM and boot up the computer. When it asks you something like "press any to boot from cd" then press a key.

2. It will begin loading...then go into DOS and type at the "c:\" prompt "chkdsk /r" without the quotes.

3. Enter "1" or whichever number os you want to repair then press enter.

4. It will take a little bit to go through the repair process and try to fix any errors.

Answer 4

I don't know exactly what your problem is with your computer but when my PC started playing up i got my memory stick/disc/floppy and saved all my stuff i could get (the most important) and re-installed windows. It works perfectly now. But that was when it started to play up. I really hope that works but if it is to late and you may be short for cash get in a professional they may be able to do it from opening it up. They are very expensive but not as expensive as getting a new computer.

P.S. By the sounds of it, it should still be in a repairable state

Good luck!!!

Answer 5

Reloading windows will NOT erase all of your documents. There's a way to load it "Repair" that won't ask you to format the disk. put the CD in and start it up... follow the prompts to repair. It might let you get going into safe mode and then you can see really what's up!

good luck

Answer 6

It definitely sounds like the hard drive has failed. If data on there is important, there is a chance it can be recovered, but it will be expensive. And, if data is needed, don't keep turning it on, as each operation will cause further damage.

Best bet, get the PC to a tech shop.

Answer 7

I experienced same problem last month, I try reinstall my windows, but its not work, I try format then reinstall but not works too!

Then I unplug all my hardware and check it with my friend PC, the problem is my RAM.

I bought new one and its normal again, acctually I dont have to do format and reinstall my OS.

I suggest you unplug all harddrive and check it with somebody CPU to see whats going on.

Answer 8

You have a virus!!!!! The only thing you can do is install you back up diisc's. Unless you have a virus remover.