What are shell32.dll Error Messages?

Dynamic Link Library shell32.dll Errors

shell32.dll is considered a type of Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file. Dynamic Link Library files, like shell32.dll, are essentially a "guide book" that stores information and instructions for executable (EXE) files - like appidpolicyconverter.exe - to follow. These files were created so that multiple programs (eg. Microsoft Office Access 2010) could share the same shell32.dll file, saving valuable memory allocation, therefore making your computer run more efficiently.

Unfortunately, what makes DLL files so convenient and efficient, also makes them extremely vulnerable to problems. If something happens to a shared DLL file, either it goes missing or gets corrupted in some way, it can generate a "runtime" error message. Runtime is pretty self-explanatory; it means that these errors are triggered when shell32.dll is attempted to be loaded either when Microsoft Office Access 2010 is starting up, or in some cases already running. Some of the most common shell32.dll errors include:

• Access Violation at address - shell32.dll.
• shell32.dll could not be found.
• Cannot find C:\Windows\SysWOW64\shell32.dll.
• Cannot register shell32.dll.
• Cannot start Microsoft Office Access 2010. A required component is missing: shell32.dll. Please install Microsoft Office Access 2010 again.
• Failed to load shell32.dll.
• The application has failed to start because shell32.dll was not found.
• The file shell32.dll is missing or corrupt.
• This application failed to start because shell32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

Your shell32.dll file could be missing due to accidental deletion, uninstalled as a shared file of another program (shared with Microsoft Office Access 2010), or deleted by a malware infection. Furthermore, shell32.dll file corruption could be caused from a power outage when loading Microsoft Office Access 2010, system crash while loading shell32.dll, bad sectors on your storage media (usually your primary hard drive), or quite commonly, a malware infection. Thus, it's critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

How to Fix shell32.dll Errors in 3 Steps (Time to complete: ~5-15 minutes)

If you're encountering one of the error messages above, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your shell32.dll issue. These troubleshooting steps are listed in the recommended order of execution.

To begin System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. When you see the search box, type "System Restore" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click System Restore.
4. Please enter the administrator password (if applicable / prompted).
5. Follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard to choose a relevant restore point.
6. Restore your computer to that backup image.

If the Step 1 fails to resolve the shell32.dll error, please proceed to the Step 2 below.

You can uninstall Microsoft Office Access 2010 software by following these instructions (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Uninstall" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click "Add or Remove Programs"
4. Find the entry for Microsoft Office Access 2010 14 and click "Uninstall"
5. Follow the prompts for uninstallation.

After the software has been fully uninstalled, restart your PC and reinstall Microsoft Office Access 2010 software.

If this Step 2 fails as well, please proceed to the Step 3 below.

Microsoft Office Access 2010 14

Microsoft Corporation

When the first two steps haven't solved your issue, it might be a good idea to run Windows Update. Many shell32.dll error messages that are encountered can be contributed to an outdated Windows Operating System. To run Windows Update, please follow these easy steps:

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Update" and press "ENTER".
3. In the Windows Update dialog box, click "Check for Updates" (or similar button depending on your Windows version)
4. If updates are available for download, click "Install Updates".
5. After the update is completed, restart your PC.

If Windows Update failed to resolve the shell32.dll error message, please proceed to next step. Please note that this final step is recommended for advanced PC users only.

If Those Steps Fail: Download and Replace Your shell32.dll File (Caution: Advanced)

If none of the previous three troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, you can try a more aggressive approach (Note: Not recommended for amateur PC users) by downloading and replacing your appropriate shell32.dll file version. We maintain a comprehensive database of 100% malware-free shell32.dll files for every applicable version of Microsoft Office Access 2010. Please follow the steps below to download and properly replace you file:

1. Locate your Windows operating system version in the list of below "Download shell32.dll Files".
2. Click the appropriate "Download Now" button and download your Windows file version.
3. Copy this file to the appropriate Microsoft Office Access 2010 folder location:
   
   Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\
   Windows XP: C:\Windows\System32\
   Windows Vista: C:\Windows\System32\
   Windows Vista: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
   Windows 7: C:\Windows\System32\
   Show 10 more directories +

   Windows 7: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
   Windows 8: C:\Windows\System32\
   Windows 8.1: C:\Windows\System32\
   Windows 10: C:\Windows\System32\
   Windows 10: C:\Windows\Temp\527D94AF-D053-4381-B105-0D815D53791E\amd64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.16299.1004_none_739e0be343ae135c\
   Windows 10: C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.16299.1004_none_739e0be343ae135c\
   Windows 10: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
   Windows 10: C:\Windows\Temp\527D94AF-D053-4381-B105-0D815D53791E\wow64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.16299.1004_none_7df2b635780ed557\
   Windows 10: C:\Windows\WinSxS\wow64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.16299.1004_none_7df2b635780ed557\
   Windows 10: C:\Windows\System32\
   
4. Restart your computer.

If this final step has failed and you're still encountering the error, you're only remaining option is to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

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