The application failed to initialize properly - 0xc0000005

[John H Meyers]

Shortly after some defragging and wiping free space (via PGP v9),
my computer continues running like a perfect charm,
until suddenly I begin to discover that
no xxx.exe program whatsoever can be started
on my up to date WinXP/SP2; all give the error
"The application failed to initialize properly - 0xc0000005"

After plenty of searching and reading,
I have yet to encounter anything relevant or useful.

No, I have never installed .NET (framework or otherwise

I can only continue running already-started programs,
such as this web browser with posting software;
no "regedit.exe," no repeat look using "defrag,"
nothing else of any sort will run.

I get the feeling that this computer has just become toast,
but will try reading any replies using some other computer,
to see whether anything useful turns up
to rescue this Windows installation from oblivion, thanks.

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[John H Meyers]

The thought of "System Restore" also occurred to me,
but is likewise impossible to run.

Nothing new was installed today (or even this week, I believe);
there is no SoundBlaster card, this is just an old HP Pavilion 6735
which has been working perfectly for 4-5 years, had WinXP Pro
freshly installed (first reformatting the drive) last Summer,
and was even working perfectly all through yesterday & today,
until after defrag + PGP wipe free space,
after which all running programs continue fine,
but nothing whatsoever that isn't already running can be started.

I guess I'll have to put it to sleep and hope it can ever again wake up!

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[John H Meyers]

[after no executable program whatsoever would start]

I guess I'll have to put it to sleep and hope it can ever again wake up!

Miraculously enough, it did, after complete shutdown & power off.

So things are running again -- is there any reason
to do a System Restore (or anything else) now?

Is there any clue about what might have happened,
why it happened, and how to avoid in the future?

Thanks.

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