VISTA - corrupt file

Have a VISTA based PC with a corrupt file SHDOCVW.dll - showing as 0 bytes and as such impossible to run almost anything easily.

I have second HDD with a previous image - but out of date date on it and tried a copy across to c:\windows\system32\ but it will not allow me to - working at command prompt.

I have very limited time to access the machine - can anyone please give me some detailed instructions on how to change file protection ( through CMD window possibly) or how to launch File Manager and do it from there.

the corrupt/missing dll stops toolbars and icons being displayed.



Thanks

Use attrib to change file attributes

You can use CACLS to change access permissions from the command line. You may also need to change the attributes with ATTRIB.

Thx to both ...

Have made some efforts but first advisory was to use ICACLS ... but I tried CACLS and got no where, then with ICACLS it became access denied.

Assuming the user name that I am logged on with is Craig ... please could you construct the CLI instructions, I have the Command window open and can navigate to the directories.

Looks like System File Checker is the command to use http://pcsupport.about.com/od/termss/p/sfc-command-s...

On Vista (x64):

C:\Windows\System32

Attrib of shdocvw.dll shows 'A' (archive).

You probably need to login as admin or run as admin for dos prompt to get access to system32 files.

If the user you are logged on doesn't have authority to edit permissions (which may be the case even if your are an Administrator) that would possibly explain the "access denied". Try using the /setowner option of ICACLS to change ownership of the file to yourself (will only work if you are an Administrator) and then try to set the permissions.

Full syntax of ICACLS: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753525(...

On the other hand, it may be that the "access denied" means that another program has a lock on the file.

How - from task manager, can I run as Admin?

No ICONS, no task bars or anything!

Boot off a live linux CD with writable NTFS support and bypass all this Vista security kerfuffle?

E.g. Trinity Rescue Kit is a special-purpose LiveLinux CD and may help in these circumstances:
http://trinityhome.org

Perhaps:

http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vista/475248-solve...

Create a cmd file to run command as admin.

sfc tells me I need to be an administrator running a console session - reading the link confirms admin, but I am logged on as an admin user.

Boot into safe mode?

Download/burn/boot Linux CD?

runas /user:admin sfc

Thanks all for the various suggestions - it was a real pain trying to copy the file and I finally gave up late last night. I'm currently in my remote Scottish location without any blank CDs or DVDs so Linux was out of the question.

I found that VISTA was only patched to SP1 so before I went out this morning started an SP2 update - it took around 4 -5 hours. Fortunately, it has rewritten the file to the disk and that problem solved. I now need to find out why "auto updates" had not worked for SP2 - or is that still a manual accept/deny installation?

iirc SP2 is a UAC enabled update (you need to agree to the terms and admin authorise it).

All SP updates are manual I think.

without any blank CDs or DVDs so Linux was out of the question.

Maybe you already thought of this...

Given a sufficiently modern PC, many bootable CD images can also be booted from a USB memory stick (or, if appropriate, a USB-attached phone pretending to be mass storage).

Anyway, good to know you're sorted for now.

Hmm, I thought they were automatic (assuming healthy system and plugged in to mains) in Vista/7. I ought to know this, but you've got my doubting myself now

My Dad's computer has had W7 SP1 sat there for months now with automatic updates enabled, as I tried it previously and it blue screened.

AFAIK SP1 did sit on automatic updates for a while as requiring it's tickbox to be checked, but I believe after a couple of months it then went to automatic install, as Microsoft do do with certain updates.

Doing a quick google suggests that SPs are recommended not critical, so they will update if you have 'include recommended updates' set in automatic updates. Although, I'm sure that's the default, so I not sure why it doesn't do it by default in my case.

Edited by deleted (Wed 28-Sep-11 23:43:51)

I might test with machine and just leave it running, see what happens. After initial installation it does immediately start downloading updates but whether it only does 1 phase and then revers to the normal routine, I am not quite sure. The trouble is when I am setting up Windows I cba pratting about waiting for it to automatically update itsself so I manually run updates till it is done. Luckily it's a lot more efficient in Windows 7 than it is on XP, especially with SP1 slipstreamed.

Though what I do find funny is so many people report problems with Windows Update and yet even when I try and make it mess up I never succeed, I do wonder what people do with their computers at times - most likely not reading messages properly and I wouldn't put it past 3rd party antivirus and other software causing many problems. I mean, even pulling the power cord in the middle of an update usually doesn't stop it in it's tracks.

Edited by Pipexer (Thu 29-Sep-11 00:01:37)

I've noticed people simply click 'cancel' on everything that gets in the way of facebook, which generally causes problems.

I did try connecting my phone - but that requires drivers and it refused to load them and initialise! But it does now!

No suitable memory sticks around - in desperation I could have cleared a couple or an SD card but time is/was critical for me.

There may well have been more problems hiding but the SP update could have sorted those too - i did remember seeing some other files of zero size.