Tell me more ×
Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

Installed a custom theme, but it made some changes to my system and now my sound won't work. I backed up the original shell32.dll before doing this, but now I can't delete the new one. Whenever I try to do it, I simply get that it is being used by atieclxx.exe. I can't teminate that process in order to release shell32.dll. Any help?

share|improve this question
Well, how did you originally replace it? – Oliver Salzburg♦ May 25 '12 at 21:25
That's the weird thing. When I did it the first time, I didn't have any problems as soon as I acquired owner rights. Might be because it was the original or something? – Jacce May 25 '12 at 21:39
1  
Do "the old switcheroo". Rename shell32.dll to shell32.dl_. Then put your backup shell32.dll in that folder and reboot. Sometimes you can't delete a file but rename it just fine. I find it, however, very curios to begin with to mess with that file. – Oliver Salzburg♦ May 25 '12 at 21:41

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

Betting "atieclxx" is an ATI display driver or control panel component. Stop any ATI software from running and see if you have better luck. Also you might try exchanging the file in Safe mode. If all else fails, use a Windows PE boot disk or Linux live CD to replace the file with Windows not running.

share|improve this answer
Safe mode wasn't working, however, I was able to replace the file using dual boot of Linux – Jacce May 25 '12 at 22:16
up vote 1 down vote

If you can't or don't want to use Linux, get MoveFile from Microsoft and open a command prompt as elevated administrator:

movefile.exe C:\Windows\System32\shell32_original.dll C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll

confirm the pending move:

pendmoves.exe

and reboot your machine.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.