Deleted dwmapi.dll / wont boot

DVNT · 22 Jul 2011

Hello guys,

I got a problem. I accidently deleted dwmapi.dll which was in my windows/system32 folder. Something was wrong with the file. After I deleted the file, I reboot my computer. But it didn't startup the login screen and stays at a black screen with cursor.

I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Now I tried the following things;

Safe mode, does the same thing
Unplug everything except mouse & keyboard, doesn't work either
When I press F8, there is Repair your computer, but when I boot that up, it stays at a loading screen with a yellow bar forever. The first time I did it, it worked, but I didn't know what option to choose so I pressed cancel and waited till I had more information. Then when I tried it the 2nd time, it gets the forever loading thing.
Tried last known good configuration, does nothing..

So I don't have any options left... I don't want to reinstall it, I got no cd anyways, so is there any other thing I can do?

Any help is appreciated
~DVNT

Bill2 · 22 Jul 2011

Download a repair disk from this site.

Download Windows 7 System Recovery Discs — The NeoSmart Files

Then run startup repair and failing that system restore.

You can also run sfc scan offline.

SFC /SCANNOW : Run in Command Prompt at Boot

Tchernobog76 · 22 Jul 2011

Hello there, DVNT
There is a way to get into your OS, you just need to have a computer that has an internet connection and a blank CD (DVD's work too).
Now, goto ubuntu.com and download their latest OS
After that, burn the ISO (.iso) file to the blank CD -or- DVD
You may already have an image burning program included in the OS that you're using, if you don't, just go searching on google and find a freeware program (Nothing too wow-zing)
Now you have your bootable Live CD version of Ubuntu
Start-up your pc with the media in your drive and boot off of it.
When an Ubuntu screen greets you, select your language and start the live cd OS
Reply when you need anything.

DVNT · 22 Jul 2011

@Bill2 Ty but the download link of that cd is not available anymore. But maybe it's somewhere else?

@Tchernobog76 Thank you for the explanation, I will try that now.

Btw, I also have a backup file of that dwmapi.dll but not in the system32 folder. Can I place it back in the right map when I'm on ubuntu?

Bill2 · 22 Jul 2011

DVNT said:

@Bill2 Ty but the download link of that cd is not available anymore. But maybe it's somewhere else?

Btw, I also have a backup file of that dwmapi.dll but not in the system32 folder. Can I place it back in the right map when I'm on ubuntu?

Yes, try placing that backup file in system32.

I just checked neosmart and indeed it says "Downloads have suspended pending copyright clarification".

Tchernobog76 · 22 Jul 2011

It's easy as cheesy (the good kind X3)

DVNT · 22 Jul 2011

Well the ubuntu cd wouldn't boot, so I downloaded a random windows 7 recovery disk burned it and it booted. Fixed it with system restore after that, and my computer worked again!

Thank you both for the help!

Tchernobog76 · 22 Jul 2011

Yeah, i've also been experiencing problems booing aswell, but I thought it was just my computer.