Major OS problem

[ran echelonuk]

I am running Vista 64 Business.

Yesterday everything was fine with my PC and I shut it down. This morning, lots of my programs refuse to run (msn messenger, firefox, skype, wow etc) and give this error:

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/886/errorrx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/errorrx1.jpg/1/w572.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img379/errorrx1.jpg/1/)

Some other programs such as internet explorer, speedfan, windows update and NOD32 do work.

After a little googling, a common solution seemed to be installing vcredist_x86.exe from microsoft, but running this program gives the same error.

Some other programs such as MS office give a different error:

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9589/error2rs7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/error2rs7.jpg/1/w477.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img529/error2rs7.jpg/1/)

Ideally I'd like to fix this without doing a reformat, any ideas?

[ryan_975]

Try hunting down the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x64) on MS's site and installing it. It's worked for some people.

[ran echelonuk]

Well I downloaded that, running it gives this error:

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2294/error3ts4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/error3ts4.jpg/1/w489.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img78/error3ts4.jpg/1/)

[Nenu]

Try what is suggested in this thread:
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vista/613262-solved-failed-because-s-side.html
Use the newest VCredist you have.

I uninstalled AVG first (not sure if really necessary)
Uninstall VC++ redistributable in control panel - programs and features (If 2 copies, uninstall both)
Reboot
Reinstall the VCredist package that is in the Bioshock pc demo folder/vr dist
Reboot
Voila!

Got it! After looking at your problem with the VC++ redistributable. I looked in my registry and found nothing to delete. I fixed a problem in the Windows Update files by deleting all of them. Went to Windows Update, and the 8 items that were not installing finally installed. I deleted BioShock, and rebooted. After the system was up and running, I installed BioShock without a hitch, and it is one great game so far. Oh, I also deleted AVG. THANK YOU!!!!!

[ran echelonuk]

Unfortunately there's no VC++ redistributable to be seen in "Uninstall or change a program". I tried uninstalling the last couple of weeks of windows updates and rebooting, but no luck.

[Mister Natural]

I really don't know if it will help but I would try running sfc /scannow from the run menu.

[Underoath]

system restore? did you recently install any windows updates?