Hi guys! I really hope someone can help with this one!!

When I turn on my computer I get the following error message:

'The application failed to initialize properly 0xc0000142 Click ok to terminate'

I click ok and just get a permanent blank screen and I am unable to do anything else with it. Just shut down via the Task Manager and start all over again. It happens almost every time.

The problem started when the kids downloaded a Disney game from the internet a few weeks ago. Assuming this was the problem, I uninstalled it and deleted it from the desktop yet still I have this problem!!

Any ideas?

Thanks

Ali xx

Are you able to boot the pc into safe mode ? Obviously it is an application error , possibly corrupted software that is in the boot start menu . To specify which specific app is causing the error ( assuming you can boot into safe mode ) do the following

Right click My Computer > click manage > click event viewer > and check all error messages in the applications section ( marked in a red circle with a white X )

This will refer to a specific program causing the error .

Click Start > Run > in the command box type " msconfig "

Choose the startup tab and deselect the application from the startup menu . This will stop the application loading at startup and hopefully stop the error message .

Hi,

Thankyou for your help. I have taken your advice and restarted my computer in safe mode. I have done all you said and ended up with a message saying that I cannot make the changes you recommended as I have to login as an 'administrator' but when I try to do this it asks for a password!!!

Apparently the system is set with a blank password for the admin account yet it still will not allow me to sign in leaving the password box blank. I have tried all the obvious passwords such as 'owner' and 'admin' yet still nothing. so:

1. What password do I need to sign in using the administration account and

2. If and when i finally do, what do I do when i check the error messages in the 'event viewer'? Do I right click and select 'properties' and then 'clear log'?

Confused!

Ali

What OS are you using? If it is XP or Vista what version?

On your second question don't clear the logs just double click on the entries to find out the information in them and tell us what the most frequent ones are.

When you are able to run msconfig from the first tab click on selective startup and then UNCHECK load startup items. Tell us if you can boot normally then.

Hi ,

Three possible solutions to retrieve an admin password in XP :

Firstly leave the entry blank ( which you seem to have already tried )
Secondly use the password on your normal user account
Thirdly download a password retrieval piece of software , *****

The Administration account password is set on install so if you have only the single user account and provided a password for that account I'd place the second option as the most likely solution .

The following link shows how you can use the " run as " option in XP , if you are able to boot into the OS ( I was unsure if you could or not ) .

*****

Hope that helps .


Post edited by Dan Penny for content. First warning.

cyberjunkee we can't help a user with password hacking as that goes against our rules & terms of service. I suggest that you remove that before you get in trouble.

Sorry to all ,

Didn't see it as password hacking but password retrieval - won't happen again .

Originally Posted by cyberjunkee

Sorry to all ,

Didn't see it as password hacking but password retrieval - won't happen again .

The thing is that it might be password retrieval for the person who is authorized to use a computer but for someone who isn't it is computer hacking; there is a very fine line. Another thing is that we don't know which is which so to avoid the possibility of civil/legal ramifications for us, the forum, and our parent company we have to refrain from helping out; we just can't afford to take their word on the fact that they own it. My guess would be that all of the big help sites have policies against that. You can look through our terms of service and see that in several different places. Now when you signed up you probably did like most people do & that do everywhere and just clicked to agree to the terms but if you are planning on helping (and they really appreciate the help) you need to know the policies so you know what advice you can give and what you can't so I suggest that you read them because they will ban someone over them.