JSI Tip 8605. When you restart Windows XP after an install of the MS04-038 security update, you receive 'Explorer.EXE - Entry Point Not Found - The procedure entry point SHCreateThreadRef could not be located in the dynamic link library SHLWAPI.dll'?

The subject behavior will occur if you have a failed SP2 (Service Pack 2) installation, where the file system contains pre-SP2 files, but the registry indicates that SP2 is installed. When this occurs, Windows Update or Automatic Updates offered the SP2 version of MS04-038, which updated some files to post-SP2, causing a dynamic link library mismatch.

To recover from this problem:

01. Log on with administrative privileges. If you cannot log on, try starting in Safe Mode.

02. Ignore any error messages.

03. Open Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.

04. Press New Task (Run) on the File menu.

05. Type %SystemRoot%$NtUninstallKB834707$spuninstspuninst.exe into the Open box and press OK.

06. After the restart, open Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.

07. Press New Task (Run) on the File menu.

08. Type %SystemRoot%$NtServicePackUninstall$spuninstspuninst.exe into the Open box and press OK.

09. After the restart, re-install SP2. See http://www.microsoft.com/sp2install/.

NOTE: If you are unable to complete any of the above, perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP, and then install SP2.

10. After the restart, use Windows Update to install the critical updates.

NOTE: To determine if your computer is in an incomplete SP2 state:

1. Start / Search / All Files and Folders.

2. Type %SystemRoot%system32lsass.exe and press Search.

3. Right-click the Lsass.exe file, which may appear without an extension, and press Properties.

4. Select the Version tab.

5. If the version is earlier than 5.1.2600.2096 and Windows Service Pack 2 exists in the Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs applet, you have an incomplete SP2 installation.