I have got a problem when booting my PC i have looked everywhere and found some cure's but they dont seem to be for the exact error i have got.

I am getting a message when i first try to get into Windows it says " This application has failed to start because OLEAUT32.dll was not found. Re-Installing the application may fix this problem"

In the blue bit at the top of the box it also says Isass.exe - Unable to Locate Component.

If i keep pressing the x on this box it lets me log into windows my background picture appears but nothing else. I get the same message but this time it says userinit.exe - Unable to locate component i press the X and it says the same but explorer.exe in the corner. It then just shows my background picture and nothing else.

If i CTL ALT DEL it says the same box but taskmanager.exe in the corner but then the task manager comes on i cnat really do nothing else.

I would like to fix the problem instead of just loading windows in over the top due to having pictures which i havent backed up and if i lose them the wife will kill me.

I hope somebody can help.....

have you tried downloading the dll and reinstalling it?
Can you get into safe mode?

A repair install will not delete your drive. It will only install windows over itself leaving all other files untouched. You would then need to reinstall all updates and patches.

I can get into safe mode buts its just same has normal the background apears with nothing else. All i can do is CTL ALT DEL but cant run anything through that due to getting the same message but different things in the blue bar depending on what i am trying to start.

How do i do a repair install???

Have you tried a Window's Repair off the CD, I've never had much luck with this but worth a try. Your best bet would be to install your hdd in another computer and back up your pictures, etc. Hdd are really inexpensive, could get a 2nd one and copy your data to that, do a clean install of Windows, and then put in the second drive for storage or you could either buy or put together an external drive. Putting it together would be better. If you don't want to get a second drive, at least partition your drive, Partition Magic is very good, and keep your data on the second partition. When you need to reinstall Windows just format the partition your using for Windows, your data should be safe

Partition Magic is indeed very nice.

It's easy. Just pop in your OS CD and boot to it. Go about it like you're doing a normal OS install (DO NOT USE RECOVERY CONSOLE!) and get to the screen where it asks you to select the HDD / Partition. From there you should be able to select your OS partition and hit 'R' (or whatever the repair key claims to be on your screen).

If you do this and it still doesn't correct your problem, then go with g-paw's suggestion of backing up and doing a fresh install.

Just to give you a update - I am in the middle of doing a repair install, i just hope it doesnt wipe the photographs of.

I will let you know how i get on

Repair install only replaces system files. Other files should remain unaffected.

That being said, you really should backup those photos now even if the Repair works. There is no price to0 high to avoid a pi$$ed off wife after you've wiped out something that's really important to her, especially if it's irreplaceable.

sounds like a payload virus how to fix without a boot virus scanner checking http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/isass.html
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/ [...] l?oleaut32

I loaded Windows back in but half way through it some messages came up saying certain things didnt load. Once it was finished it went back just the same has it is now.

Due to work commitments i havent been able to do anything until tonight.

I have got another copy of Windows but when i try to install windows it is asking me for the Administrator password, i cant for the life of me think what it is, i think it asked me last time but cant remember,how can i get passed this bit?????????

You can try this http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com [...] asp?ID=305

Or just google: I forgot my administrator password winxp

THANKS A LOT everybody who helped me. The password i needed was the BIOS one, i clicked on the link rgeist554 posted and it helped me by repairing the windows a different way than i was trying.

Anyway the wife is happy now.

Glad it worked out for you.