MSN.exe - what is it, how to fix it?

[Mark.Poyser]

Hello all Microsoft fans!!

I've searched the web and MS knowledge base, with no helpful results,
so here I am.

A friend has a Verizon DSL account which appears to have a tricked-up
MS Internet Explorer as part of that package.

Today she reports that on boot (or after clicking a MSN icon) a message
appears somewhere on the top of the screen:

C:\Program Files\MSN\MSNCorefiles\MSN.EXE "application configuration is
incorrect" May have to reinstall.


Before getting to any solutions, I have some comments about the general
nature of file naming and product management by Microsoft.

When a message appears about something called MSN.exe, I would expect
that it would be associated with a UNIQUE PRODUCT NAME. Call it
MSN-browser. Whatever. But some name that can then be used as a
keyword for searching for solutions or download packages. Instead, I'm
off getting all sorts of search results for MSN Messenger, or trojans,
or maybe it's Microsoft Explorer 6, or something else.

I'm a programmer, and I would expect that for the general user, if a
problem occurs, that person should be able to easily identify it BY
NAME, and if needed, easily find repair instructions or a reinstall
download package. But that doesn't seem to be the MS way. Why is it
so non user-friendly? The Microsoft.com website didn't help me at all
with the knowledge base or with finding any repair/reinstall downloads.
(To be fair, the Verizon website had nada as well.)

Anyway, back to the problem at hand.

QUESTIONS:

What is ../MSNCorefiles/MSN.exe exactly? I still don't know.
Any ideas how to fix this apparent "application configuration" problem?
Is there a simple way to download a new package for reinstall, should
that be indicated?
Is it true that there is, in fact, no Microsoft Network? I am unaware
of a special network owned and operated by Microsoft. Is Microsoft
Network merely a jazzy name for an enhanced Internet browser? (If so,
somebody should be publically flogged, and you know who I'm referring
to.)

Any answers greatly appreciated, especially for fixing the problem.

 

[Galen]

In (e-mail address removed) had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Hello all Microsoft fans!!

I've searched the web and MS knowledge base, with no helpful results,
so here I am.

A friend has a Verizon DSL account which appears to have a tricked-up
MS Internet Explorer as part of that package.

Today she reports that on boot (or after clicking a MSN icon) a message
appears somewhere on the top of the screen:

C:\Program Files\MSN\MSNCorefiles\MSN.EXE "application configuration is
incorrect" May have to reinstall.


Before getting to any solutions, I have some comments about the general
nature of file naming and product management by Microsoft.

When a message appears about something called MSN.exe, I would expect
that it would be associated with a UNIQUE PRODUCT NAME. Call it
MSN-browser. Whatever. But some name that can then be used as a
keyword for searching for solutions or download packages. Instead, I'm
off getting all sorts of search results for MSN Messenger, or trojans,
or maybe it's Microsoft Explorer 6, or something else.

I'm a programmer, and I would expect that for the general user, if a
problem occurs, that person should be able to easily identify it BY
NAME, and if needed, easily find repair instructions or a reinstall
download package. But that doesn't seem to be the MS way. Why is it
so non user-friendly? The Microsoft.com website didn't help me at all
with the knowledge base or with finding any repair/reinstall downloads.
(To be fair, the Verizon website had nada as well.)

Anyway, back to the problem at hand.

QUESTIONS:

What is ../MSNCorefiles/MSN.exe exactly? I still don't know.
Any ideas how to fix this apparent "application configuration" problem?
Is there a simple way to download a new package for reinstall, should
that be indicated?
Is it true that there is, in fact, no Microsoft Network? I am unaware
of a special network owned and operated by Microsoft. Is Microsoft
Network merely a jazzy name for an enhanced Internet browser? (If so,
somebody should be publically flogged, and you know who I'm referring
to.)

Any answers greatly appreciated, especially for fixing the problem.

MSN.exe is the actual MSN Explorer - the browser used at any rate. That ends
what I know...

(You touched on a pet peeve of mine - I get irked by "setup.exe" more than
anything else in the world I expect. At least it's a simple life but oh my,
doesn't that irk me to no end.)

Now this is what I suspect... (Someone tell me if I'm mistaken...)

I believe it uses the IE engine. I believe that upgrading to IE7 may make
also have some impact. I would suggest - based on what I suspect, as I know
nothing really - that reinstalling MSN Explorer might clear things up as
might updating the product if there is an update available. I don't use it
and thus don't have it installed even.

There is this:
http://www.litepc.com/xplite/msnexplr.htm&view=expanded

I honestly don't know if it will be what you're looking for. You may also
wish to try one of the MSN specific groups if no one can help here. (Don't
blame me, I didn't name them either. *grins*)

I'll go ahead and crosspost this to an MSN group.

If I had to make a giant leap of faith - I'd actually look inside IE's
settings having to do with add-ons (manage add-ons button) and see if
there's a difference if all of them are disabled.

If I had to make a giant jump of faith - and likely fail horrifically - I'd
ask about malware scanning...

Malware Cleaners and Repair:
http://kgiii.info/windows/all/general/malwarefix.html

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and its
solution is its own
reward." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Mark.Poyser]

Galen,

Thanks for those ideas and links. I'll check some other groups that
might have some insight into MSN.exe. I should have mentioned that my
friend's system is XP Professional. I thought that O/S upgraded S/W
and did all sorts of auto-fixes.

Yes, malware was one possibility that I thought of. But the system is
supposed to be protected with either McAfee or Norton (I forget which).
And doesn't XP Professional have a built-in firewall?

Still, it's kind of odd that I couldn't find a quick answer to whatever
was wrong with MSN.exe at the usual places (Google-web, Google Groups,
Microsoft.com). That's part of my puzzlement and frustration.

Thanks again!

Mark

 

[Galen]

In (e-mail address removed) had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Galen,

Thanks for those ideas and links. I'll check some other groups that
might have some insight into MSN.exe. I should have mentioned that my
friend's system is XP Professional. I thought that O/S upgraded S/W
and did all sorts of auto-fixes.

Yes, malware was one possibility that I thought of. But the system is
supposed to be protected with either McAfee or Norton (I forget which).
And doesn't XP Professional have a built-in firewall?

Still, it's kind of odd that I couldn't find a quick answer to whatever
was wrong with MSN.exe at the usual places (Google-web, Google Groups,
Microsoft.com). That's part of my puzzlement and frustration.

Thanks again!

Mark

Like any OS or any software constant upgrades are needed. At least, so I
think... I wouldn't be able to say for certain with MSN Explorer though that
must be the case as the version numbers keep changing. Both McAfee and
Norton are on my lists of things to tell people to shy away from - too much
of a hassle uninstalling, upgrading, and there are far too many people still
getting infected while they use those products for my liking. As for a
firewall, XP has one, however there are many ways into a system that are
done simply by bypassing a firewall. Finally, yeah... Usually you can root
for information and come up with it pretty easily - yet there doesn't seem
to be a great deal of information concerning MSN Explorer online - if there
is I've not come across it but that may well be just because I don't use it.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and its
solution is its own
reward." - Sherlock Holmes