explorer.exe - Application Error (0xc000007b) when logging in.

Hello everyone,

When i log in on my pc (on laptop at the moment) i get the message:

The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b). Click OK to close the application.

here are the steps i took for some context:
- I tried to install a custom theme
- took ownership of the 'explorerframe.dll' files in system32, and also in sysWoW64.
- copied both of them, and stored them somewhere else as a backup.
- renamed both originals to explorerframe001.dll, and kept them in their original places (system32 and syswow64)
- copied and pasted the new explorerframe.dll from the custom theme folder into system32 and syswow64.
- restarted, logged on, and the message came up, leaving me with a blank screen.

What would be a good way of resolving this issue without having to completely restore everything? I have read a few posts around involving the elevated command prompt, but i dont know how to start that without rightclicking cmd.exe in my start menu.
If anyone can give me a good walkthrough to follow, or a direction to take that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Arc said:

Welcome aboard.

Try SFC /SCANNOW : Run in Command Prompt at Boot and let us know the situation.

thanks,
but at point 7, where, after i have entered the 'scf /scannow...' its says the following:
'Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service.'

where do i go from here