shell32.dll not found; user interface error?

splishsplash

Hi all,
I'm hoping someone can help me - I turned on my computer this morning and it wouldn't boot up - about three or four messages kept popping up telling me there was a shell32.dll error, or the shell32.dll thingy wasn't found , and then asked me to restart, which would start the whole thing over again.
I then got into bios (which I probably shouldn't have done, but it was all I could think of), and eventually managed to boot up by restoring factory defaults.:o
Now, all my documents, spreadsheets, pictures and powerpoint stuff has vanished, and I've had to re-install Norton etc. I did a system scan with Norton and it found something called active toolband.dll
Can anyone tell me what went wrong, and more importantly, if I can do a System Restore to get back my documents and photos, and even more importantly, is this likely to happen again:eek:

BillScarab

It sounds to me like you've used a restore partition on you machine to re-install it to the state it was in when you purchased it. You won't be able to use system restore to recover your files as you have re-installed windows and system restore only restores system settings not user files anyway (unless you have certain versions of Vista).

There are tools to recover deleted files but I haven't had to use any so couldn't recommend one.

Have you got backups of everything on CD/DVD?

splishsplash

Thanks for the answers- to be honest, I have NO idea what I did, I don't even know what a partition repair is! I could well have done just that...

I'll try the XP disc tonight and see if I have any luck.

Thanks again.

BillScarab

Al_Mac wrote: »

When I had this, I stuck the XP disk in. When it offered me the option to REPAIR, I did. It worked and 18 months later, I still don't think I've lost anything.

This would probably have worked when the OP first had the error. However I think they have restored the PC and wiped what was there before from what they have said.

splishsplash

I think you're right, BillScarab - system restore has no checkpoint older than this morning...
I tried searching for files using the c:\ prompt, but came up with nothing.

I think they're gone....

Thanks anyway.

splishsplash

Thanks anyway, Al Mac:D ,
I looked for the windows XP disc, but didn't have one - it was pre-installed on the laptop when I bought it, and I just used the activation key in the packaging (I think), and then made a back up disc when I turned on the system for the first time.
I tried loading the back-up disc, but it just listed the files that were on it, and didn't do anything automatically.

Could I try anything else? I'm getting a bit despondent now... I'm remembering more and more stuff that I don't have backed up, and I could just about tear my hair out!