Shell32.dll (Microsoft Shell Library) stores Shell API functions and is an important part of theWindows operating system. The main job of this file is to provide file access and webpage opening support.
Error appearing on the screen
You may receive the following error message when you attempt to open Internet Explorer 5.0 or 5.01 on your computer:
This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
When you click the Details button the following text appears:
IEXPLORE caused an invalid page fault in SHELL32.DLL"
When you click the Close button, you receive an error message similar to the one below:
"There was an internal error and one of the windows you were using will be closed.?
What causes this error?
The above error is reported when the Search Bar value under the following registry key is incomplete:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main key
How to resolve the issue
To repair the above error, you need to complete the following tasks:
- Export the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main key.
- Delete the Search Bar value under the Main key.
To do this, perform the following steps:
- Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and press Enter.
- Next, in the Registry Editor window, browse to the following location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Select the Main key, click the File Menu of the Registry Editor Window, and then click Export.
- In the Export Registry File dialog box, type the name you want to give to the file in the File name box, select the location where you want to save the file from the Save in drop-down menu, and then click the Save button.
- Next, in the right-pane of the Registry Editor window, locate and right-click Search Bar, and then click Delete.
- Click the File menu and select Exit to close the Registry Editor.
Error appearing on the screen
On a Compaq Armada 1500-series or Presario 1710 laptop computer that has Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2, if you try to open Microsoft Internet Explorer, you may receive the following error:
?Iexplore caused an Invalid Page Fault in Shell32.dll.?
What causes this error?
The above error occurs because the Compaq Safety and Comfort Guide software creates registry entries which are incompatible with Microsoft Internet Explorer.
How to resolve the issue
To resolve the error, delete all the values under the following registry keys:
Note: If you delete the values under the following registry keys then the Compaq Safety and Comfort Guide software may stop working. It is recommended that you export these two keys before deleting values under them, so that you can restore the entries in case any complication arises.
- HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Explorer\StreamMRU
- HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Explorer\Streams
Error appearing on the screen
On a Windows 95 or Windows 98 Standard Edition computer when you try to open My Computer or Control Panel, you may receive either of the following errors:
?Explorer caused an invalid page fault in module Shell32.dll.?
?Explorer caused a divide error in module Shell32.dll.?
What causes this error?
The above error occurs if your version of Plug-in for Windows is earlier than version 2.5.
How to resolve the issue
To fix the error, you need to contact the manufacturer of the software and check if they can provide you with an updated version of the program.