Vista - HELP! 32 bit IE, WMP and Windows Live Messenger not working

Hey, Matt here
Ok, here's the problem:

My friend lent me a couple of Iron maiden CD's to rip to my computer, so i put the first one in, and tried to rip it, and it crashed my computer 3 times. After i got logged in after the 3rd crash, windows live messenger wouldn't sign in, and i kept getting an error message saying the service was unavailable, or something. Unfortunately i cant say the exact message, because now it won't open up at all. When i click on the shortcut on the desktop, and the icon in the start menu, the loading indicator by the mouse pointer appears, but nothing happens. A similar thing happens when i try to load Windows Media Player, and my 32 bit Internet Explorer. my 64 bit IE works, but as most people know, it is near useless, as 64 bit IE doesn't support addons like flash.

I downloaded Mozzilla Firefox to replace 32 bit IE, but i really need Windows Live Messenger and WMP, ad it would be good to know that I had 32 bit IE if i felt like using it instead of firefox.

I tried going to add/remove programs and clicking repair on windows live messenger, but it just gives me the message -
"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance."

I looked on the internet, and some similar looking problems were given the suggestion of using the "windows cleanup utility". I tried to download it, but it didn't work, because of Windows Installer not working.

I'm really stuck here, any help would be much appreciated.

Hi Mattftw,

Have you run a scan with an Antivirus program to rule out the possibility of viruses?

Its gonna sound stupid, but I don't currently have any antivirus software at the moment. I had Norton, but the subscription ran out, and my dad bought Kapersky Anti-virus, but unfortunately that won't run with Vista. I have considered a Virus to be an option but i'd like to try all other possibilities first.

probably some hard reboot has messed up some files from windows installer service...try a disk check but also try logging in safe mode and running in command prompt: sfc /scannow , it should report any missing/corrupt files.

Also such errors appear after installing the new windows live messenger 9. Have you by any chance done that?

A "Rootkit Virus" is the likely cause here. It may happen with other Audio companies, but those Iron Maiden CDs wouldn't happen to have been produced by Sony?

Sony is notorious for flagging their discs with auto-install rootkit software intended to prevent them from being played and/or copied on PCs. The real problem arose when it was discovered that the rootkits opened backdoors into a system that could allow viruses to enter without detection...

Rootkits themselves are now also considered to be viruses.

I would have to agree, it sounds like something malicious was on the disks.

Very interesting, thats soemthign new i've learned. I'll check with my friend if the CD's were produced by Sony. If they were, what action do you suggest i take (aside from the obvious installment of antivirus software)?

I can't say whether or not it's Windows Live Messenger 9 because i honestly don't know. I wouldn't think so, because i haven't run any updates on Windows Live messenger.

As for disk checking, i'm not a whizz with the maintenance side of computers so --- How to run disk check?

Try here:

Check Disk - chkdsk
and then here:

System Files - SFC Command

Thanks