shdoclc.dll

Hi
I have been recommended to by a friend who you have helped so I hope you can do the same for me.
When I open a program (any program) and click on say help and support via the web I get '' this file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. create an association in the folder options''
When I go to folder options click on File Types and scroll to URL Internet shortcut and highlight it I get opens with then nothing. I checked my other computer and it says open with ''Shell Doc Object and Control Library which i believe is the shdolc.dll I have found this in the system32 folder but when I go back to folder options and browse to the system 32 folder and shdoclc.dll and tell it to open with it comes up cannot find it please check correct path. I have downloaded and installed a fix from the web but that did not work. I know it is part of SP2 and I have got that installed but I am now at a complete loss as what to do next. Hope someone can help[ me

Hi, As a first step you could try running the System File Checker (which is part of your operating system.) This will examine all Windows protected files to see if any are missing or have been corrupted and hopefully sort them out. You may be asked for your Windows XP disc so have it handy. To run System File Checker, boot up your machine normally and then click on Start/Run and type into the box: sfc /scannow Please note the space between the c and the forward slash as it's essential. Regards paws

Thanks for the advice, done as was suggested and had a play with other things as well !!!!!! anyway I somehow got the correct file association for URLs in the folder options, as I have a second computer I checked it and as far as I can see the URL file association is the same on both of them, but I am still having the same problem on computer number 1 IE I still get ''this file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an an association in the folder options'' The program that I have been using to check if I have corrected anything is Panda antivirus 2007, I just go to services and click on Internet tech support and that is when I get the message. There are a couple of other programs that when I go into the help and ask to connect to their website nothing happens but I don't get the warning message. I assumed it was because of the URL association but could it be another file association that I need to correct and if so how do I find what one. Thanks

Hi,
I reckon the time may have come to consider repairing/reinstalling Internet Explorer.
This is not a big job but does need a bit of care.
For detailed instructions go here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318378/

With a shiny bright new installation the file association problem should be fixed.
Regards
paws

Done as you suggested (well almost) I installed IE7 and yes it worked everything is back to normal working fine. I forgot to say that my main browser is firefox so it will be interesting having a play with IE7. Is there anything I should be wary about with IE7 Thanks for your help paws

Hi I was very pleased to hear that things are now back to normal. Well done. When it comes to IE7 you are way ahead of me, I have not dared to install it yet! I'm afraid I'm one of those folk who wait a while to see what bugs are discovered, then for it to get out of Beta and for the first 6 or so patches to be issued before I make a move! Regards paws

Hi thespook,

I recently had a play with IE 7.0 myself.
It is no longer in "beta" so some of the bugs are worked out, but it is still RC1 (release candidate stage 1) so Microsoft is still "fixing on it" and "monitoring it closely".

"monitoring it closely" is a hugely worrisome reference.
Internet Explorer 7.0 currently comes bundled with "Windows Genuine Advantage Monitor" Wgatray.exe

In the EULA (end user license agreement) the end-user is told specifically that he/she does not "own" IE 7.0, but is permitted to use the one unaltered copy, and that Microsoft retains the "right" to monitor the use of IE 7.0 and any Microsoft OS or peripheral related to its use.

When you initially installed your Windows XP, you agreed at that time to participate in Windows Genuine Advantage "Validation", when you registered and Activated your XP. If you didn't, you would be unable to receive general updates of XP and would have some additional annoying steps just to get "critial upadates and patches". But the "Validation/Activation" was a "one-time affair". Afterward, you machine and its XP was "tagged" by Microsoft as "Legitimate", and auto-updater worked for critical updates and patches and general update/optional updates.

Not So With WGA Monitoring!!!!!
WGA Monitoring interrogates your machine, operating system, and internet connection "every" time you boot up your machine, instead of just gathering the information once. WGA Monitoring interrogates and alerts every time you access the internet, instead of just gathering the information once.

Here is a sampling of the alerts generated by Wgatray.exe:

"Internet Explorer is attempting to monitor user activities on this computer. If allowed it may try to track or log keystrokes (user imput), mouse movements (clicks), web sites visited, and other user behaviors."

"Internet explorer it trying to change your network settings by modifiying the file: Windir\ETC\HOSTS. "
Allow Deny iexplore

"Internet Explorer is trying to communicate with \SystemRoot\System32\Smss.exe by opening its process"
iexplore Allow Deny

"Windows Genuine Advantage Notification is trying to read & modify physical Memory." WgaTray.exe
Allow Deny

In the meantime, Internet Explorer 6.x continues to be compatible with all websites, machines, and systems that I know of, and will be my MS browser of choice when I need to use MS.

Otherwise, I use both Firefox and Opera, each of which can do all that you'd ordinarily want to do on the internet, except connect to Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage, and I consider that a PLUS.

You'll need IE to download critical updates and patches, with the caveate/exception that there are more than one companies currently providing update services for Windows operating systems that do a pre-test function to determine what the MS offered update/patch does, and whether or not it does it well and without causing unintended damage to an owner/users machine as occurred extensively in the April MS update bundle.

Downside of these independant updaters? About a two day lag between MS release and availability on the independant site.

Best Regards