SHELL 32 DLL error

When I go to start/programs, there is a folder titled "games" that I believe my son created to organize his games. When I move my pointer to the folder, I get a message "explorer has caused an error in SHELL 32 DLL. explorer will now close. What do I do about it. As soon as I highlight it, I get that message. I don't really know what's in it, but I imagine it's just shortcuts to games. Any way to sneak up on the damn thing and crack it open before it sees me?lol Seriously though, it's a little annoying because if I just run my pointer over it looking for another program, it causes explorer to close.

 

Try running a check of the system's file structure. Open My Computer and right-click your hard-drive(es). Choose Properties, and then the Tools tab. Under Error Checking, click the Check Now button. Be sure to check "fix file system errors" in the dialog that pops up. If the system says it will need to reboot, do so.

 

Thanks for your response, I tried your advice, and it found and corrected some errors, but not the problem. I even defragged, but the problem still persists.Any other suggestions anyone?

 

What version of Windows?

 

I'm using win ME, and IE 6

 

tried safe mode and I still get the message. It's really strange, when I place the arrow on Games, it sort of freezes for a minute, and the menu doesn't pop out the side, and then I get that error message. I guess I can work around it, but it annoys me to know that somethings screwed up, ya know? Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep them coming

 

roddinron,

Have a look here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q259096 an article listing some of the symptoms you describe in your post and also applies to Windows ME.

I would wait before I did anything, like tampering with the Registry Editor, you have some senior members helping you and I would suggest to wait on thier approval or instructions before you do anything.

Hopefully, after reading the article someone with more experience will reply.

Steve

 

I'm curious if this would generate a similar error:

Right-click the Start button, choose Explore, navigate to and select the Games folder in question. Same thing?

 

Strange, I just thought of the same thing and tried it, then came to report.I went start/programs/right click/open, and yes I still got the message, but it did open. I moved the error message aside, and was able to click on some of the folders and shortcuts. But there's one folder UBI, that freezes. I tried to delete it but when I click on it, the timer freezes. So I went to add remove programs and removed it. But the folder is still in the games folder, and still reacts the same way. So I went to reg cleaner and found it and removed it from the registry. But still the same problem. Any other suggestions? I really appreciate your help.
BTW, what the Heck is a Talibong?

 

Talibong is an inside joke that's been going in the Lounge.
Sounds like an exotic smoking implement doesn't it?

The next thing I'd try is to note the path to that folder, open a command prompt (preferably in Safe Mode) and navigate to the folder and see if Windows will allow you to delete its shortcuts and then the folder itself.

 

how do I note the path to the folder? As soon as my pointer lights it up, it freezes, even a right click. When I go to search/ files and folders and type UBI, I get the error message.
Sounds like Talibongs and Pink Floyd just go together.

 

In the left (folder view) pane in explorer it will be something like:

C:\Windows\subfolder1\Start Menu\subfolder2\Games... etc.

Works for me

 

I'm sorry, you lost me, maybe I'm getting tired, or maybe I need one of those fancy smokin' devices. I'm not sure what you mean.

 

By path I mean the path from the root of the drive down thru the folder structure to the folder you want to access.

That was just an example I used.

In the screenshot on my drive I created a series of folders to illustrate. See the folder 1example and it's subfolders? That would be represented like so:

C:\1example\2example\3example\4example

Once you can see the folder path to the one you want to delete in explorer, you can navigate to it using the DOS 'CD' command in the command prompt window.

 

Hey, I think I fixed it.I went start/programs/right click/open, and yes I still got the message, but it did open. I moved the error message aside, and was able drag the folder, so I created a new folder on the desktop, and then dragged the UBI folder to it. I was then able to delete the new folder. Games folder now opens as it should. Thanks guys for all your help, I really appreciate it. I'm gonna go pack the Talibong and dream in color tonight!

 

You're quite welcome. Good work on getting it fixed!

 

roddinron,

Sorry I was away, went to lake this weekend. You had the best helping you.

Just wanted to let you know why I didn't reply any sooner. Steve

 

No problem Steve, I appreciate all the help I got, in the end though I guess I just stared at it enough, and played with it enough to finally stumble on the fix, even if it was just dumb luck. Somehow though it seemed like a sloppy way to end the problem, kind of anticlimactic ya know?, but it worked, and I'm still smilin'.