Unable to access Internet to complete IE6 setup to fix SHLWAPI.DDLL issue

I was running a Norton Systemworks preventative maintenance program, which offered to fix my registry files, which I said, "OK".  After the job ran, when booting up, I'd get the error "SHLWAPI.DLL not found" and "OK" message (no other choices).

Fortunately, I found the following 12-step procedure from calpol to fix the problem here on Experts Exchange, and I do fine up to Step 8, then I have a problem--I am unable to connect to the Internet so I'm unable to re-install IE6.  

Here's the solution I found on EE:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win98/Q_20793747.html

Since that's a long post, I'll copy the meat of that answer, a 12-step procedure to fix the problem, here:

*********** START OF PROCEDURE ****************************

Accepted Answer from calpol
Date: 11/24/2003 12:12PM PST
 Accepted Answer  


ok, sorryif I did not explain fully, here is what I did step by step.

Forget the windows boot CD and erase your own memory of this email chain otherwise you'll end up asking more questions and get confused like I did when I read this..I am not PC expert either like yourself but here goes...(but was a mainframe techi once a long time ago...those were the days...)

(do not enter anything outside quotes including the quotes themselves...)

1> Boot up as normal but hold down SHIFT and F5 at the same time, you will get a msg saying it is bypassing start up or something, you will then get a prompt. something like c:\> this is knows as the DOS prompt.

2> from here type "CD\WINDOWS" and the prompt will change to C:\windows

3> type "copy system.ini system.bku" this will create a backup (hopefully wont need this)

4> type "EDIT system.ini" and this will bring up the DOS text editor and display a the system.ini file which is a text file that sets all kinds of parameters and thingy's for windows.  

EDIT is a basic text editor program which was used pre-windows...it looks clumsy compared to MSWord but does the job and believe me its easier than the mainframe tools I used back in the 80's!

Look file carefully down the text list and you will see a line (mine was about 3 lines down) as follows.

shell=Explorer.exe

using the cursor keys, move the cursor so its at the end of this line and press <return> which will create a new line.  Type the following directly underneath:

shell=Progman.exe

then go back to the first line and put a * as the first charcter which will comment it out, you show now see the following:

*shell=Explorer.exe
shell=Progman.exe

Depending on whether you have insert on or off it will either insert before the "S" or overtype it so don't worry about that as long as it has a * infront of the original line.

Now press ALT + F and then X to exit and reply YES to save it...you will now end up back at the DOS prompt.

NB: Should you stuff this up for any reason obviously reply NO to save and start again..if you save it by accident and have stuffed it up then you can copy your backup file over the top by typing "COPY SYSTEM.BKU SYSTEM.INI"

5> Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot your system and do a normal boot - don't press anything...you should (hopefully) see a window appear (give it time) with Progman at the top - this is the old Windows interface which we can use to save the day!

6> You should have full mouse control (you confirmed this earlier) so click on FILE and then select run and a dialog box pops up with a box with command line above it.  You cannot directly run it from here as it will be hard to predict your file structure, so you may have to do some digging around.  NOTE: This old inderface only supports 8 char file names (the good old days) so files will be truncated, e.g. Program Files may be called Program~f.  Click the BROWSE button and get up the file dialogue box.

7> Double click on c: on the folders list and double click your program files directory, this may me program~1 or program@s but you'll find it...then select the internet explorer sub directory, as before this will be truncated to 8 chars, mine was called INTERN~1.  double click on this and on the left you should see the file IE6.SETUP.EXE amongst a few other files.  Double click this to run it.

8>  Make sure your modem/broadband link is up.  I got a few messages saying that I didn't need to run this again as I already have it installed etc... this but you can overried I can't remember the options but just carry on with the install.

9> I then got prompted to access the internet to download latest version which I clicked yes etc.. and then it ran the installation program which took about 10 mins.

10>  You will then get prompted to restart etc...do this..BUT when it boots up hold down SHIFT+F5 again to get into the DOS prompt as before..

11> Follow steps 2 & 3 again to edit system.ini only this time uncomment the old line and comment out the new line so it looks like this:

shell=Explorer.exe
*shell=Progman.exe

Save it as before and get back to the DOS prompt

12> CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot and then let it boot up as normal...all should be ok (I HOPE)....

********* END OF PROCEDURE *********
 
I get prompted each time I boot up to ask if I want to boot up in safe mode, and I select "safe mode with networking".  On Step 7, I start the IE6 install process fine, but then I get the following prompt:

"Setup needs to download additional files from the Internet to install one or more components you've selected.  If you do not have Internet access, please contact your network administrator.  Do you want Setup to download the additional files from the Internet?"

I answer "Yes".

I get the message: "Setup was unable to download information about available installation sites.  Setup may have ben unable to use your current proxy server settings.  Click advanced if you have proxy settings.  The network may be busy; you can retry now or if you continue having this problem, please try Setup at a later time.  (Retry) (Cancel) (Advanced) (Help)."

If I answer "No", the install process stops completely.

How can I complete this installation process?

Additional background notes:  I am trying to access the Internet from home, on a cable modem (Comcast).  I don't think I have any proxy settings.  I am using a second computer, a laptop with WinXP, using the same cable as the one plugged into the Win98 desktop that has problems, so I know the line is good.  When I plug the cable into the jack on the back of the troubled Win98 desktop, I see the little green light on the jack that indicates to me there's a live connection there...  I could use the laptop to download a file and then transfer it to the other computer if appropriate.  I would have to use just a 1.2MB diskette, though.

Thanks in advance for your assistance!