The pipe state is invalid?

[bluesteel]

I keep getting the following error, "The pipe state is invalid", while trying to run several applications. What gives? Is their some new virus out there? Im currently running windows defender, spybot, and avira antivir. Any suggestions on how to fix this error? Whenever i try to load or install new applications it does this to me. I can do some things from safemode but thats about it. THe machine is my brothers, running windows vista home 32 bit, q6600, asus p5nd-sli, 2gig ddr2. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as ive been really struggling with this one. System restore helped till about 3 restarts then issue came back.

[bluesteel]

Just as an update i was able to resolve this problem by going back even further with systems restore and by not installing some new software and driver updates. THis seems to have been created by some incompatible driver/software that i was using as the problem appears to have resolved itself finally. I found mutliple threads on the web about this issue and their really was no resolution for it provided on any of them. I would imagine if i hadnt been able to restore that i would have needed to format to fix this issue.....shudder while i back up my stuff!