Office 97 won't Install - error: Cannot find SHELL.DLL

R

Ron G

I can't get Offcie 97 to install on a PC with Windows XP OS. The error that
I get as soon as I click the "Install Microsoft Office" button on the Set-up
Window is "Cannot find SHELL.DLL". When I click "Close" the error box comes
up for "Can't run 16-bit Windows program" with the message "Cannot find file
F:\Setup.exe (or one of its components). Check to ensure the path and
filename are correct and that all required libraries are available."
SHELL.DLL is in the C:WINDOWS\system folder.

Suggestions?

Ron G
 
N

NewScience

The problem is that you are trying to install a 16-bit product on a
predominately 32-bit system.
SHELL.DLL is a 16-bit shared library used pre-Windows XP (e.g., Windows 95,
98, ...).

First, you need to determine if the DLL (or DLLs) are registered in the
Windows Registry.
16-bit DLLS do not register using regsvr32, they use regsvr16. So you will
have to locate that app.
If I recall, it is also on the installation CD you have for Office 97.
Search for regsvr16.exe or regsvr16.ex_ (in case it is compressed).

Once it's registered, you may have to determine if C:\Windows\System is in
the search Path of Windows XP.
Try running 'set' (without quotes) from a CMD window and see if
C:\Windows\System is in the PATH environment variable.

Keep in mind, SHELL.DLL may not be you only file not found problem. You may
run into other DLLs not installed or registered, and even if you get it
installed, Office 97 may not work with all the dependencies on 16-bit
support DLLs and files.
 
N

NewScience

The problem is that you are trying to install a 16-bit product on a
predominately 32-bit system.
SHELL.DLL is a 16-bit shared library used pre-Windows XP (e.g., Windows 95,
98, ...).

First, you need to determine if the DLL (or DLLs) are registered in the
Windows Registry.
16-bit DLLS do not register using regsvr32, they use regsvr16. So you will
have to locate that app.
If I recall, it is also on the installation CD you have for Office 97.
Search for regsvr16.exe or regsvr16.ex_ (in case it is compressed).

Once it's registered, you may have to determine if C:\Windows\System is in
the search Path of Windows XP.
Try running 'set' (without quotes) from a CMD window and see if
C:\Windows\System is in the PATH environment variable.

Keep in mind, SHELL.DLL may not be you only file not found problem. You may
run into other DLLs not installed or registered, and even if you get it
installed, Office 97 may not work with all the dependencies on 16-bit
support DLLs and files.
 
N

NewScience

The problem is that you are trying to install a 16-bit product on a
predominately 32-bit system.
SHELL.DLL is a 16-bit shared library used pre-Windows XP (e.g., Windows 95,
98, ...).

First, you need to determine if the DLL (or DLLs) are registered in the
Windows Registry.
16-bit DLLS do not register using regsvr32, they use regsvr16. So you will
have to locate that app.
If I recall, it is also on the installation CD you have for Office 97.
Search for regsvr16.exe or regsvr16.ex_ (in case it is compressed).

Once it's registered, you may have to determine if C:\Windows\System is in
the search Path of Windows XP.
Try running 'set' (without quotes) from a CMD window and see if
C:\Windows\System is in the PATH environment variable.

Keep in mind, SHELL.DLL may not be you only file not found problem. You may
run into other DLLs not installed or registered, and even if you get it
installed, Office 97 may not work with all the dependencies on 16-bit
support DLLs and files.
 
N

NewScience

The problem is that you are trying to install a 16-bit product on a
predominately 32-bit system.
SHELL.DLL is a 16-bit shared library used pre-Windows XP (e.g., Windows 95,
98, ...).

First, you need to determine if the DLL (or DLLs) are registered in the
Windows Registry.
16-bit DLLS do not register using regsvr32, they use regsvr16. So you will
have to locate that app.
If I recall, it is also on the installation CD you have for Office 97.
Search for regsvr16.exe or regsvr16.ex_ (in case it is compressed).

Once it's registered, you may have to determine if C:\Windows\System is in
the search Path of Windows XP.
Try running 'set' (without quotes) from a CMD window and see if
C:\Windows\System is in the PATH environment variable.

Keep in mind, SHELL.DLL may not be you only file not found problem. You may
run into other DLLs not installed or registered, and even if you get it
installed, Office 97 may not work with all the dependencies on 16-bit
support DLLs and files.
 
N

NewScience

The problem is that you are trying to install a 16-bit product on a
predominately 32-bit system.
SHELL.DLL is a 16-bit shared library used pre-Windows XP (e.g., Windows 95,
98, ...).

First, you need to determine if the DLL (or DLLs) are registered in the
Windows Registry.
16-bit DLLS do not register using regsvr32, they use regsvr16. So you will
have to locate that app.
If I recall, it is also on the installation CD you have for Office 97.
Search for regsvr16.exe or regsvr16.ex_ (in case it is compressed).

Once it's registered, you may have to determine if C:\Windows\System is in
the search Path of Windows XP.
Try running 'set' (without quotes) from a CMD window and see if
C:\Windows\System is in the PATH environment variable.

Keep in mind, SHELL.DLL may not be you only file not found problem. You may
run into other DLLs not installed or registered, and even if you get it
installed, Office 97 may not work with all the dependencies on 16-bit
support DLLs and files.
 

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