Ordinal 421 Error

[Goofy]

I was trying to use a theme patcher so I could use visual styles, and afterwards after rebooting and logging in, I get a popup message that states: The ordinal 421 could not be located in the dynamic link library urlmon.dll. As a result, after the message shows up, only my desktop background is visible with no Start Menu/Taskbar or desktop icons/gadgets. The message shows up for when I try to run a lot of programs, starting off with explorer.exe and the system restore, preventing them from executing. I can navigate using Ctrl+Alt+Del with the task manager though. I also don't have my XP disc, so I can't really repair it that way, though I'd like not to lose my files. Any idea how to fix this?

[Dencandy]

You can access System Restore from safe Mode, so try that. Normally dlls can only be repaired using an installation disk, or from a previous image made using something like Acronis, or from another system back up record such as Windows or CCleaner.

First of all though try to back up any irreplaceable files to a pen drive using copy in Safe Mode.

Also, if you can, if you can get to Safe Mode, try to remove the program that you were using before the problem occured.

[Goofy]

You can access System Restore from safe Mode, so try that. Normally dlls can only be repaired using an installation disk, or from a previous image made using something like Acronis, or from another system back up record such as Windows or CCleaner.

First of all though try to back up any irreplaceable files to a pen drive using copy in Safe Mode.

I had tried to reboot in safe mode, but the ordinal message still shows up, preventing action :(

[Dencandy]

If you can't boot in Safe Mode and you haven't got a Windows installation disk, I can't think of anything else to suggest except shop around for an XP disk (Professional if possible) while they are still on sale. Make sure it's genuine. Then install from scratch.

If your disk was in partitions your files should still be accessible on the other partitions. If everything was on one partition a program like Recuva (free) may be able to find your data so long as you don't wipe the disk with a file deleter. Installing Windows again will only delete the actual sectors on which it gets installed.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

What is your version and service pack level of Windows? What is your version of urlmon.dll? What version of IE do you use?

This hotfix may help http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942367 , but don't apply if you already have a newer version or urlmon.dll

[Goofy]

What is your version and service pack level of Windows? What is your version of urlmon.dll? What version of IE do you use?

This hotfix may help http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942367 , but don't apply if you already have a newer version or urlmon.dll

My Windows XP is Media Center Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 2. I don't know how to check what version of urlmon.dll I have. I actually use Opera, but my IE is version 7.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Can you try to run System Restore (from Task Manager) with %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe ?

[Goofy]

Can you try to run System Restore (from Task Manager) with %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe ?

That dreaded ordinal 421 message still shows up, not allowing me to do so

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Do you have any bootable disk, where you could try to run System Restore from? Sorry, no more ideas from me after this.

[Goofy]

Can you explain what a bootable disk is? Nonetheless, I appreciate the help, though I really hope I wouldn't need to reformat my PC.

EDIT: Would it matter what kind of Windows CD I get, since I don't really know if Windows Media Center is XP Proffesional, or what.

EDIT 2: If I have the CD and use it for a Repair-Install, will my files get wiped? (If it comes down to it, I actually need help RI-ing)

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Your original Windows install disk would be a bootable disk, for instance. But since you don't have that, any other boot disk would do: http://www.bootdisk.com/. But it needs to be a system that supports NTFS - I assume your current Windows partition is NTFS.

Windows Media Center is a specific version of XP; not Home, not Pro, but Media Center. A repair install will not wipe your files, but if anything goes wrong during the repair, you may lose your files anyway. You should have a complete backup made before you start the repair.

[Boris]

Excellent guide to doing a Repair installation here :-

http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/repair_...lation_xp.shtml

[Goofy]

Isn't there a situation where if the company (in my case, Dell) does not provide an XP disc, that those files are somewhere in the hard drive? I don't recall getting a CD in the packaging.

EDIT: But otherwise, can you explain to me what I should do through the bootdisk process?

[Boris]

See this :-

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/glo...toggle=&dl=

In "Before you begin" - select the XP option - as you are using Media Centre

Please be aware that restoring the original factory image erases ALL existing data.

This includes files, folders, programs, drivers, E-mails, photos.

Before performing a PC Restore, back up all personal files.

If you do not back up your personal files, the data will be lost.

[Goofy]

Thanks, this really helps! Just a few questions about backing up though:

- Windows explorer doesn't really work, so I can't move my files onto my iPod, but I can still use right-click in the Task Manager and use "Send To". Would that still work as good, or is there a better way?

- Microsoft Office was installed for me by someone else who had the software disc, which wasn't included in the original factory state, so copying the "msoffice2003" into my restored computer able to put MSOffice back on my PC?

[Boris]

- Microsoft Office was installed for me by someone else who had the software disc, which wasn't included in the original factory state, so copying the "msoffice2003" into my restored computer able to put MSOffice back on my PC?

No - all of your programs (excluding whatever comes in Windows + whatever software Dell pre-installed in the original factory image) will need to be properly re-installed.

You will of course also have to go through all the subsequent Windows updates as well.

[Goofy]

- Microsoft Office was installed for me by someone else who had the software disc, which wasn't included in the original factory state, so copying the "msoffice2003" into my restored computer able to put MSOffice back on my PC?

No - all of your programs (excluding whatever comes in Windows + whatever software Dell pre-installed in the original factory image) will need to be properly re-installed.

You will of course also have to go through all the subsequent Windows updates as well.

But otherwise, using the "Send to" option via Task Manager to send all the files in "My Documents" to a storage medium (iPod) would be okay?