Win 98 won't boot up; SHLWAPI.DLL not found

[providence1122]

I turned the computer on and it states: error starting program required DLL file C:windows/system/SHLWAPI.DLL not found. I don't have a boot disk (if this is what I need?) and can't get into windows at all.  I can get to the A prompt and C prompt and BIOS but not sure what to do from there.  

The following is info about my system if this helps.

                  Operating System         Microsoft Windows 98 SE

                  OS Service Pack         -
                  DirectX         4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

                  Computer Name         PAVILION
                  User Name         
                          
            Motherboard:
                  CPU Type         Intel Pentium III, 500 MHz (5 x 100)

                  Motherboard Name         Intel Warm Springs WS440BX (1 ISA, 5 PCI, 1 AGP, 3 DIMM)

                  Motherboard Chipset         Intel 82440BX

                  System Memory         256 MB (SDRAM)
                  BIOS Type         Phoenix (04/22/99)

                  Communication Port         Communications Port (COM1)
                  Communication Port         Communications Port (COM2)
                  Communication Port         Printer Port (LPT1)
                          
            Display:
                  Video Adapter         NVIDIA RIVA TNT (Gateway - English)

                  3D Accelerator         nVIDIA RIVA TNT

                  Monitor         Default Monitor
                          
            Multimedia:
                  Audio Adapter         Aureal Vortex (AU8810) Sound Accelerator
                          
            Storage:
                  IDE Controller         Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller

                  IDE Controller         Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
                  IDE Controller         Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
                  Floppy Drive         GENERIC NEC FLOPPY DISK
                  Disk Drive         GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE01
                  Optical Drive         TOSHIBA CD-ROM XM-6502B (40x CD-ROM)

                  SMART Hard Disks Status         OK
                          
            Partitions:
                  C: (FAT32)         9772 MB (4254 MB free)
                          
            Input:
                  Keyboard         Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
                  Mouse         PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
                          
            Peripherals:
                  Printer         Canon S330

                  Printer         HP DeskJet 610C Series

                  Printer         HP LaserJet 4

                  Printer         QuickLink III
                  USB1 Controller         Intel 82371AB/EB PIIX4 - USB Host Controller

DMI
_______________________________________ _
                          
      [ BIOS ]
                                
            BIOS Properties:       
                  Vendor         Intel Corp.       
                  Version         4W4SB0X0.15A.0013.P08       
                  Release Date         04/22/1999       
                  Size         512 KB       
                  Boot Devices         Floppy Disk, Hard Disk, CD-ROM, ATAPI ZIP, LS-120       
                  Capabilities         Flash BIOS, Shadow BIOS, Selectable Boot, EDD       
                  Supported Standards         DMI, APM, ACPI, ESCD, PnP       
                  Expansion Capabilities         ISA, PCI, AGP, USB       
                                
      [ System ]
                                
            System Properties:       
                  Manufacturer         Gateway       
                  Serial Number         0014604544       
                  Universal Unique ID         00492051-D31DB211-8000E2D3-E10DE713       
                                
      [ Motherboard ]
                                
            Motherboard Properties:       
                  Manufacturer         GATEWAY       
                  Product         Tabor2 WS440BX       
                  Version         Tabor2 4000502-210       
                  Serial Number         B       
                                
      [ Chassis ]
                                
            Chassis Properties:       
                  Manufacturer         Gateway       
                  Serial Number         0014604544       
                                
      [ Memory Controller ]
                                
            Memory Controller Properties:       
                  Error Detection Method         32-bit ECC       
                  Error Correction         Single-bit       
                  Supported Memory Types         ECC, DIMM, SDRAM       
                  Supported Memory Voltages         3.3V       
                  Maximum Memory Module Size         256 MB       
                  Memory Slots         3       
                                
      [ Processors / Intel Pentium(R) III Processor ]
                                
            Processor Properties:       
                  Manufacturer         Intel Corporation       
                  Version         Intel Pentium(R) III Processor       
                  External Clock         100 MHz       
                  Maximum Clock         500 MHz       
                  Current Clock         500 MHz       
                  Type         Central Processor       
                  Voltage         2.0 V       
                  Status         Enabled       
                  Upgrade         Slot 1       
                  Socket Designation         J4J1, CPU       

[GX1_Man]

You have a bad or missing .dll file. What happened prior to this that caused it? Other files could have been damaged or deleted as well.

Here's some generic info. Don't pay anything to get this resolved.

Can you boot into safe mode (F8 when the computer starts?

Do you have a real Windows CD to reinstall, if needed?

[providence1122]

I can get to a prompt or c prompt but it still says error installing explore and says I must resintall windows; I have a CD for 98 windows but it will not accept it (two came with computer-application/system recover).

[providence1122]

When I try to start in safe mode it gives me the same error message.

[2k_dummy]

Boot to the C> prompt. Change to the the windows\command directory.
cd\windows\command<enter>
Insert a blank floppy
At the prompt type: bootdisk<enter>
If this is a standard win98 installation, a bootdisk will be created.
Reboot using the floppy. The default option should be to boot with cdrom support. Let it finish booting.
At the A> prompt, type: ext<enter>
You will be prompted for the file to extract, where to extract from, and where to extract to.
The file will be your missing file. Extract from will be the cdrom drive. Watch the screen during boot to see what letter is assigned to it.
It will most likely be E:
The location to extract from: e:\win98
The location to extract to: c:\windows\system
After the file is replaced, remove the floppy and reboot.

[patio]

Download below...

http://www.dll-download.net/shlwapi.html

patio.  8-)

[providence1122]

It says my EBD dir does not exist
 :-?

[providence1122]

Can't save download to cd; says I do not have permission to open file

[GX1_Man]

Can't save download to cd; says I do not have permission to open file

No, you can not save a download to CD. It doesn't work that way.

Do you have any files that need to be backed up before you format the drive and reinstall WIndows? Where did these CD's come from? Were they from the manufacturer for that particular computer? If so, what manufacturer?

[providence1122]

I have the orig HP CDs for the operating system ut they do not seem to work; the computer was made from various parts from various computers so I'm not sure what I need.  An Ernest Home Report was made prior to this problem which is posted earlier this evening that will give you info on what I have .

[providence1122]

The files do not matter if they are deleted and it can be formatted; I only use it for training cds.

[GX1_Man]

If those are HP restore CD's and that is not the HP computer they came with, it will NEVER work.  

[providence1122]

I know, it doesn't work!  Is there any other way to restore this sytem?

[providence1122]

Is there a download for win 98 op that will work for this?

[GX1_Man]

Buy a legal copy of Windows and install that. If XP is too much, you can get a used Windows 98 on eBay, etc. No released Windows version can be downloaded legally.