Re: Windows XP SP2 updates problem with SHLWAPI.DLL and SHCreateThread

From: wallado (wallado_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 10/26/04 

Date: 25 Oct 2004 19:21:08 -0700

"virtualjay" <virtualjay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:<0AAE5B90-76A1-4C1B-A4A8-4099FD4698FC@microsoft.com>...
> This post concerns the error "The procedure entry point SHCreateThreadRef
> could not be located in the dynamic link library SHLWAPI.DLL" that may occur
> after running Windows Update.
>
> There appears to be a potential problem brewing out there in relation to
> Windows XP SP2 and application of the subsequent SP2 (Security Bulletin
> MS04-038, update KB834707) critical update. I live in one consultant in a
> small community and so far I have had two clients with this problem, so I
> thought I would just put out the information that I have found. Please
> excuse the length of this post. The problem occurs when this update is
> applied to a computer in which SP2 was not fully installed. I know this
> should not be able to occur, but it does. The two clients that I have fixed
> resulted from two different circumstances. In the first, SP2 was applied,
> and then KB834707 was applied before rebooting the system. In the second,
> the SP2 installation was canceled (gracefully) when the user determined that
> they simply did not have enough time to complete it right then. Returning to
> Windows Update the next day, the automatic process acted as if SP2 was fully
> installed, and prompted them to install KB834707, which they did. Now both
> situations involve a mistake on the part of the user, albeit very
> understandable ones that many users would be likely to make. The real
> problem sees to be that KB834707 does not adequately check its own
> prerequisites before installing. The result is that the user can boot and
> logon, but they then get a message “The procedure entry point
> SHCreateThreadRef could not be located in the dynamic link library
> SHLWAPI.DLL”. The Start button and desktop icons are not displayed,
> indicating that Explorer.exe is never loaded. The user can Ctl-Alt-Delete to
> get to task manager to shut down. The same problem occurs when booting in
> Safe Mode. The solution (finally, if that is what you are looking for) is to
> uninstall KB834707. I was able to do this in both instances using the
> following procedure
>
> 1. Boot to the Recovery Console (and hope you have the admin password)
> 2. Type cd $ntservicepackuninstall$\spuninst
> 3. Type batch spuninst.txt
> 4. The screen will scroll around, saying “files missing”, “access denied”
> and also copying files about. Just wait for this all to finish
> 5. Reboot. I was able to reboot in normal mode
> 6. Re-install SP2 (You must do this or the problem will recurr at step 7).
> 7. REBOOT
> 8. Install KB834707
>
> I hope this helps the next person. Regards.

This is an excellent post. I followed these steps ( for the most part
) and it worked. I would just like to add a few points.

1. There are other posts and KB articles that mention several
different methods of resolving a failed XP SP2 install. These involve
CTRL ALT DLT to get the Task Manager and then using the File > Run
menu to launch commands to attempt recovery. None of these methods
worked for me. The uninstall always failed. The method above worked
so I would try it first rather than last.

2. For those of us who do not perform this kind of surgery often,
Booting from the Recovery console means inserting the XP Operating
System disk in the CD and then booting the machine. Press PF12 ( or
whatever key works in your system ) to get the boot menu. Choose to
boot from the CD drive. In the ensuing screens enter R for the
Recovery console. This will drop you into a command prompt where you
can enter the commands given above.

3. when I rebooted I got a message from XP saying that the SP2
install had failed and needed to be backed out. I went to Add/Remove
programs and selected Uninstall. This actually performed a successful
uninstall. In the process it also "rediscovered" all my peripherals
and reset them. If you have any special settings for network cards or
other hardware settings, you might want to make a note of them before
uninstalling SP2.

4. I dont know whether there was a problem with KB834707 or not, but
I uninstalled it too. It appeared to uninstall, but remains in the
Add/Remove programs list. I think I will wait a while before
reinstalling these updates. Whatever value they might have, they are
not worth destroying my computer.