Unable to open applications, also have no sound...

I have a serious problem with my computer. It all happened around the time of a routine Windows Update...

As of this morning I am unable to open most applications. For instance, if I attempt to open Microsoft Office I receive a popup: "preparing to install..", then: "error 1719- The Windows Installer service could not be accessed".

When I attempt to open iTunes: "iTunes has detected a problem with your audio/video configuration".

I can hear the normal sound effects when clicking around through Windows, but there is no audio playback for media/youtube/etc. My web browser is working fine..

I did a system restore twice and have had no success. I assume this has to do with my update? Or maybe a virus? I have no idea..

Please help!! I need to get homework done!

Thanks in advance for any help

If it is an Windows Update problem, you could check by uninstalling the most recent updates.

Before you do this, if System Restore has all ready removed the previous updates just skip ahead to the sound part.

1. Go to Control Panel, System and Security,Windows Update, View update history.
2. Make note of the updates that you installed before the problem started happening.
3. Go back to Control Panel, Programs, Programs and Features, View installed updates.
4. Select each update that you made note of earlier, right click and click uninstall.
5. Restart your computer.

If this doesn't help you can install the updates you previously had back on to your computer.




To solve your sound problem, try reinstalling your sound driver:

1. Determine your sound driver by going to Control Panel.
2. Hardware and Sound, Device Manager.
3. Under Sound, video and game controllers your sound driver should be listed. (e.g Conexant SmartAudio HD)

If there is no sound driver you can see, then it has been uninstalled for some reason.
This doesn't matter.


Once you have your sound driver name. Make note of it.

1. Go to your manufactures website, then go to the support section.
2. Enter your model number/serial number.
3. Under Drivers download the sound driver you made note of earlier.
4. Go back to Device Manager, right click on your sound driver and click uninstall.
5. Run the downloaded sound driver.
6. Finally restart your computer.

I hope this helps you with your problem :).

Thanks for your reply.

I tried uninstalling the updates, but it didn't seem to help. There are quite a few security updates for Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile that I'm unable to uninstall for some reason, but I was able to uninstall the main Windows Update.

I also noticed that I'm unable to playback any video files (mp4, flv, etc.). When you had directed me to check my sound driver, I was unable to open Device Manager. In fact, I'm unable to open any of the subheadings in Control Panel, only the main headings...

Also, if I open my task manager there are maybe 40-50 instances of dllhost.exe - COM Surrogate.. not sure what this is?

Please help!!

Hmmm... That is very strange.

Unfortunately I think there needs to be a more experienced member on this thread to solve your problem .

Some other things you could try:

1. Start your computer in safe mode, see if that makes a difference. (Holding down F8 on start up)
2. Create another user (make sure it has admin rights), login to it. Does the problem still persist?
3. Troubleshoot your sound and video problems (Right click on the white flag on the right hand side of your taskbar).
4. If you have antivirus software, do a full system scan.
5. Try running an application with administrator privileges.
6. Try searching the internet for a solution to your problem.

Do you have administrator privileges?
If you don't that is one reason why your computer would not allow you to open Device Manager.


Also was there any other things you did before the problem started occuring?

I will try safe mode..
It turns out there are more issues than I had first realized.
I am unable to create another user, troubleshoot my sound and video, or open my Norton Antivirus. I do have administrator privileges...
For some reason I cannot open many things in control panel, mostly only main headings, but no sub-heading categories. The action centre (white flag) seems to have messages for me regarding a number of programs, but again, I'm unable to open that even..

What should I do?!? so lost..

Try a system file check/repair.

Code:

sfc /scannow

Run that command and then reboot.

So what I have heard is that you can't open any applications (except browser), you are having problems getting to certain options in the control panel and your sound and video is not working.

This makes it very hard to make any changes to your computer .

My suggestion is first try safe mode, then if that doesn't help you might have to take it into a computer shop. If they can't do anything about it then you may have to reinstall Windows 7 (or whatever OS you have).

Sorry I don't have any other suggestions .

You could also wait for another member to post in this thread that could help you :).