"Error Opening Explorer.EXE The following file is missing or corrupt: Wininet.DLL. Please try reinstalling the program."

after running a spyware scan using Ad Aware or Spybot with the following error message:

Clicking OK to this error will lead to a blank desktop. This occurs even in Safe Mode. Running CHKDSK /R or FIXBOOT will not resolve the issue.

The following procedure will fix the issue. NOTE: This will also work for any missing or corrupted Windows DLL files, such as browseui.dll, oleaut32.dll, etc…,

1.   Click OK to the error. At the blank desktop, press CRTL+ALT+DEL.
2.   In the Task Manager window, click the Applications tab.
3.   Put in the Windows XP cd.
4.   Click the New Task button at the bottom of the screen. You may receive the error again, just click OK).
5.   In the Create New Task window, type CMD. Click OK. (You may receive the error again, just click OK).
6.   At the prompt, type X: and press <enter>. (X being the CDROM drive letter).
7.   At the X:\ prompt, type cd i386 and press <enter>.
8.   At the X:\i386 prompt, type expand wininet.dl_ c:\windows\system32\wininet.dll and press <enter>.
9.   The file should expand. Type exit and press <enter> to close the command window.

Now we must re-register the expanded DLL file.

1. Click the New Task button again. Type regsvr32 wininet.dll, click OK.
2. Now click the New Task button again. Type explorer.exe and click OK.