Fix Browseui.dll Error in Windows XP

The browseui.dll file contains functions and resources for User Interface (UI) management and is used by Microsoft Internet Explorer and the local Windows Explorer application.

Browseui.dll error

When you start a Windows XP computer, you may receive the following error message:

“Explorer.exe unable to locate component  
This application has failed to start because Browseui.dll was not found.
Re-installing the application may fix this problem.”
Furthermore, your desktop screen may go blank and your taskbar, desktop icons, and startmenu may disappear.

Resolution Steps

To fix the error, you need to rename the browseui.dll file and extract the browseui.dll file from your original Windows XP disc. To achieve this, perform the following steps:

Note: In the steps given below the following assumptions are made:

  • C: is the drive on which Windows is installed
  • F: is the CD-ROM drive

In case these details are differenton your computer, please make the appropriate corrections when you perform the steps below on your computer.

  1. Restart your Windows XP computer, press and hold the F8 key when BIOS information appears.
  2. Next, select the Safe Mode with Command Prompt option from the Windows Advanced Options menu and press Enter.
  3. Insert your original Windows XP installation disc.
  4. Next, at command prompt type the following command and press Enter to switch to System folder.
    cd c:\windows\system32
  5. Type the following commands and press enter after each command.
    ren browseui.dllbrowseui.old.dll
    F:
    cd i386
    expand browseui.dll_c:\windows\system32\browseui.dll
  6. Next, press Ctrl + Alt + Del, select Shut Down using the Tab key and press Enter.
  7. Select Restart by using the arrow keys in the What do you want the computer to do? list and press Enter to reboot Windows.

When your computer restarts in Normal Mode, open Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer applications to see if you receive any of the following errors:

“Explorer.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.”

“Iexplorer.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.”

In case either of these messages appear, click more information to check the mod name. If the mod name is browseui.dll, unregister and reregister browseui.dll to fix the issue. To do this, perform the steps listed below:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd and press Enter.
  2. At command prompt type cd c:\windows\system32 and press Enter.
  3. Type regsvr32 browseui.dll /u and press Enter.
  4. Next, type regsvr32 browseui.dll and press Enter.
  5. Type exit and press Enter.
  6. Restart your Windows computer.

Note: C: is the drive on which Windows is assumed to be installed. If you have installed Windows in some other drive, say the D: drive, then replace the letter C with D in the above steps.

You may also receive recurring DLL issues and other Windows error messages if your computer is infected with malware or if your Windows registry is corrupt. To prevent DLL errors from emerging due to malware infection, install robust protective software, such as STOPzilla Antivirus and Spyware Cease on your computer. Further, regularly clean your Windows registry using advanced registry cleaning tools, such as RegServe, to prevent DLL issues and Windows errors from occurring due to registry problems.