What does SHELL.DLL mean?

[Brangwen]

I am trying to install an educational game called I SPY School Days for my 5
year old daughter. Every time I click on the D:/ drive icon a File Error
window pops up that says 'Cannot find SHELL.DLL'. When I close that window,
an install window then pops up that says 'System DLLs corrupt or missing'.
I have already consulted the troubleshooting section of the booklet that
came with the game. It told me to go into the Microsoft XP Programs
Compatibility Wizard and choose 'Getting older programs to run on Windows
XP' and then set the system to 'Microsoft Windows 95' which of course did me
no good. Could you find me a way to possibly fix this problem? My daughter
and I would greatly appreciate it.
~Brangwen~

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi Brangwen,

Are these the steps you tried to get that game to install?

Try installing and playing that using 95/98 Compatibility mode.

To install a program using Windows XP's Compatibility Mode, hold
down SHIFT as you insert the game CD, use My Computer to browse
to the setup program, and then skip down to step 1 in the list below:

To run an installed program using Windows XP's Compatibility Mode,
first right click the program and "Send To..." / Desktop (create shortcut).

1.. Right click on the shortcut to the program.
2.. Click on Properties.
3.. Click on the Compatibility tab.
4.. Click on Run this program in compatibility mode and select one of these:
a.. Windows 95
b.. Windows 98
c.. Windows NT 4
d.. Windows 2000
5.. Under Display settings, check mark the mode that you think that is best:
a.. Run in 256 colors.
b.. Run in 640 X 480 screen resolution.
c.. Disable visual themes.

Click on Apply.Click on Ok.Double click on the program.

Of course, let's not forget to check for any patches or updates for that game.
A good place to find them is: www.avault.com/pcrl/patches_list.asp?letter=a

If you'd like to learn more information about compatibility mode, you can click the
link in the Compatibility tab that reads "Learn more about program compatibility",
or watch this Application Compatibility Power Point Presentation:
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/webcasts/wc112202/WC112202.ppt

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
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My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
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