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I recieve the error on a computer with Windows ME on it that sounds as if the MSHTML.dll dll is corrupt. However I am unable to access the internet to download a current dll. This Error is occuring after I had run Spybot S&D and Adware SE. Everytime I restart the comp this error steals focus and stops all other processes from running. After Oking the error it just reappears and I can not acess anything else. The only thing I can do is access via DOS. I am not at this computer only trying to recommend a solution to someone else, or I would try and download the dll to a floppy boot to DOS and copy the DLL and register it. Any other suggestions other than this? Thanks

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Problem summary and context from the thread: Explorer/Internet Explorer runtime failures that point at MSHTML.DLL often follow spyware/adware removals and can grab focus at startup so nothing else runs (as described). Safe Mode/System Restore was suggested by but, as reports, the same error can appear in Safe Mode and block GUI restore tools. Two practical, reliable recovery paths when only DOS/startup-disk access is available are (A) restore a previous registry snapshot with Scanreg, and (B) replace the corrupted MSHTML binary from the original Windows i386 source on the install CD.

Use Scanreg to restore the registry from a startup disk (WinME startup/Win98 boot disk). From a DOS prompt on the startup disk run:

scanreg /restore

Pick a restore point dated before the Spybot/Adware run; the tool will reboot to commit the change. Scanreg is the documented Registry Checker for WinME and supports /restore from the startup environment. (ftp.zx.net.nz)

If registry restore does not clear the Explorer/mshtml fault, replace the DLL from the Windows install media (do not download random DLLs from unknown sites). From a DOS prompt (with the install CD in the drive) back up and rename the current file, then extract the compressed i386 copy with Expand:

cd \windows\system32
ren mshtml.dll mshtml.old
d:
cd \i386
expand mshtml.dl_ c:\windows\system32\mshtml.dll

Use the correct CD drive letter and Windows path for that machine. The Expand workflow is the standard method to restore damaged Win9x/ME system files from the install media. ()

A few cautions and fallbacks: mshtml.dll often does not expose DllRegisterServer, so running regsvr32 mshtml.dll may report the DllRegisterServer entry-point missing — this can be expected and is not always required after a binary swap; other IE/COM DLLs sometimes do need registration. If the i386 copy is not available, copying the same-file from a matching WinME system or performing an IE reinstall / Windows repair install are the safer next steps. Also perform offline malware scans before restoring normal operation. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for pyramus

I have the same problem after running Spybot.

When I go into safe mode I get the same error message which stops me going any further. I cannot get to system tools to get a system restore. I'm pretty much stuck.

Any help anyone could give will be much appreciated.

Kevin

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