Something very odd has happened to my laptop - software problem? Please, please help!

[wilbur]

I turned on my computer this morning and when it tried to go through to my desktop, I got a series of error messages, including things like "windows\system32\browseui.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or contains an error" and when I tired to open Windows Mail I got "Unable to initialize contacts - 0x8004104E" and also "msoe.dll could not be initialized". Basically, I cannot get into Mail, my desktop is completely blank and if I want to open a document, I have to go through a tortuous process to get there. Any ideas that might help before I head up the road to the lovely, but very expensive, local tech folk?

I haven't loaded any new programs recently, either. I use Open Office for documents and that does crash a lot - is that the problem?

Anyone, please?

Right, I suspect you need a new copy of the browseui.dll. Sounds like something has gone AWOL. Do you always shut down your computer properly?

www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?browseui

Download the file from above link. Place onto a floppy or USB drive. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to access the task manager. From there click File-New Task(Run). Type cmd and press enter. In the command prompt type: copy e:\browseui.dll c:\windows\system32 and press enter.

Failing that, try starting your pc in safe mode (hold F8 down when it starts up) and see if that helps.

If that doesn't work you could do a system restore to the last point the computer worked OK, but not sure how you would do this if you can't access your usual windows menus....

Hope this helps.

I should add when you type

"e:\browseui.dll.." etc, the "e:" is whatever letter a usb disk etc takes as a drive (might be "f:" or "g:" - but usually "e:"

Thank you so much, I will try that and let you know how it goes.

Unfortunately, the computer seems to be refusing any downloads or to run anything. I think this is going to be a job for the experts. I will try safe mode first, though.