MS UPDATE FAIL causes api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll MISSING

[Dan pinged me but I'm not a MS Engineer.]

@Steve only =>

What updates did you install last week?

Possibilities include KB2809289, KB2814124, KB2807986, KB2791765, KB2670838, IE10 plus a few updates for MS Office.

Note: KB2670838 is an IE10 Prerequisite Update. If KB2670838 wasn't already installed, it would have been "drive-by" installed when you installed IE10 (in which case KB2670838 prolly wouldn't be listed in Installed Updates or Update History.

PS: Was IE10 Release Preview installed?  Is Automatic Updates set to the Automatic configuration and if so, was IE10 installed via Automatic Updates?

***@Dan =>*** To avoid confusion & duplication of effort, it would be best to post any/all further follow-up in replies to your own, new thread:
[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_update/ms-update-fail-causes-api-ms-win-downlevel-user32/fc65057b-984f-40ef-bd6b-60666f9c7c6a](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_update/ms-update-fail-causes-api-ms-win-downlevel-user32/fc65057b-984f-40ef-bd6b-60666f9c7c6a)

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For home users, no-charge support for security updates (*only!*) is available by calling 800-MICROSOFT (800-642-7676) in the US or 877-568-2495 in Canada. [1] [2]

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary [i.e., in other regions] for support issues relating to security updates, visit the following Microsoft International Support website:
[http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx?rdpath=4](http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx?rdpath=4)

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[1] Monday through Friday, 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM Pacific Time; Saturday and Sunday, 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM Pacific Time

[2] KB2670838 & IE10 are NOT security updates!

Nice on Dan - still backing up here mate

I have asked an MS engineer who is responding in another thread about problems with installing IE 10. I asked him to come over and check this thread, to see if he can help us.

right so far boys i have managed to resolve the user32 and ole32 dll issues by obtaining them from www.zhaodll.co

all went well mind but get the right vesion x86 vs x64 etc

Then i got the api-ms-win-downlevel-shlwapi-l1-1-0.dll issue

so i tried the same this bombed my machine into a death spiral where i could only just about roll it into cmd mode off advanced recovery etc.

I tried deleting renaming and moving but with no joy, the only way i got rid off it was to use a stand alone HDD reader using a sata to usb to the laptop (not the main machine) after removing the shlwapi.dll file i am at least back into a limited windows setup and backing up my 300gb before trying the next solution or just reinstalling from the win disc.

ps THANKS for the freakin help MS

Steve

I think there was something in that Windows Update that caused this problem. 

While I prefer IE, my firefox still works, as does my e-mail.  The "missing .dlls" also shut down my Weather Bug, Adobe update, DivX updater, and Yahoo IM.