Simviation Forums

Just installed new CPU, some more fans, and a video capture/TV tuner card... all seemed OK at startup, very limited options in the CMOS so I didn't change anything there regarding CPU, but now I'm noticing that certain commands, esp. in System Tools, yield the following error message:

rundll32.exe- unable to locate component

...the missing component is IMAGEHLP.dll...
What have I overlooked here?
The system (WinXP) went through a massive disk check on startup, even though I cleaned and defragged yesterday in preparation- that seemed odd.
 Anyway, I'm fishing for advice here, as I sure as hell don't want to reinstall the OS, which is what the error message recommends. Maybe the "application" referred to is just a component of XP... but I don't know if I can do a partial re-install...??   ???

I'd love to just try a System Restore (I remembered to set a point just before the hardware changes), but guess what is one of the apps that won't work now...?!  >:(

probably its a virus or maybe you installed the cpu wrong?
If I were you I would reformatt.

Whenever changing the CPU or motherboard, it's best to format and reinstall windows. The drivers for the new hardware are assembled in a database built during the Windows installation. You can sometimes get around formatting by clearing CMOS and reinstalling the motherboard/chipset drivers so it detects and installs the appropriate drivers. But, the surest method of an error-free OS is to reinstall.

Thanx for the advice, guys... I will start backing up (not quite up-to-date there) and prepare to reformat, BUT:
Did a little searching online and discovered where that .dll should be in the System 32 folder, then discovered I could copy just that file off my installation CD and restore it. Restarted, and all seems OK now.
We'll see if it remains stable...

Hmmmm... still a little weird. Guess I need to re-format.
Question: since I have two HDs with the OS only on one, can I move things I want to back up onto the "storage" HD, reformat my C drive, then move them back? Common sense tells me "yes", but we're not talking common sense here; we're talking computers...

In theory you should and it will be safe to say Yes I will give you a 99% gaurantee for the 2 HDD idea. I woulda just got that dll and been done but if its still wierd well I hate reformating so I try and find the problem and fix.

well actualy... raformatting is kinda good if you think about it.
the only problem is the fs9 aircraft files and stuff you downloaded. but really. when you start up a freshly reformatted comp you get about 5 fps more.

(I love the smell of a freshly reformatted comp in the morning )

Plus you'll get the most out of the new CPU with a reformat!  8)

You're all no doubt correct, I need to clean up this thing in general anyway. Besides, just restoring that dll didn't quite work: the system keeps trying to run disk check on startup, and there are random slowdowns (although I'm no longer seeing that error message). Also not seeing any improvement in fps in FS9, which is what the upgrade was all about in the first place!