Side-by-side configuration is incorrect.

I was wondering if someone could help me with this error message.

"The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log for more detail."

I've never seen it before yesterday when it started appearing. I first noticed it when I went to open my webcam software. I thought it was just the software, but after several reinstallations and lots of online searching I realize that's not the issue. I downloaded the RegistryBooster, but I can't even open that up without getting this same error message. I have ran the command prompt and it didn't tell me anything. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Hello and welcome to the forums, i would try to use a restore point first to go to a date before this happened, if that fails to resolve the issue, then i would use this : How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7 to see if i had missing or corrupt registry files. By the way, do not use Registry Booster, it will cause more harm than good, even if you get it to work, lose that program, only tested and trusted program is Ccleaner, in my opinion. Post back your results please.

Well, I didn't want to have to use a restore point because I just recently installed Microsoft Office on my computer. Should I go ahead and use the System File Checker Tool? Oh and okay I will delete the Registry Booster thanks for that information.

Side by side is a unique problem not usually solved by traditional methods. Unless one of our specialists looks at your abc file (the SFC report) and gives specialized advice, a reinstall is the usual course of action.

Should I wait for a specialist to look at the report then?

Run SFC, then if our one expert in this area comes by he will help. His time has been rather limited on the site however.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html
http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/283887-side-side-configuration.html

Ok I just ran the SFC and it still says there are no integrity violations. Alright thanks for your assistance.

Hello again, i am a new member, so, i am still learning. But, from reading that link in Rich's post re: http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/283887-side-side-configuration.html That appears to be as Rich said, not able to be removed by traditional methods, and it appears that the best way is as Rich suggested. Use this to not lose your programs and such. This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep all of your personal user account files, settings, and programs. You will be performing a Upgrade Install from within your currently running Vista.

You will have to use the exact same Vista installation media type that you currently have installed.


http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

I know you are worried about losing your new program, so, this is your best bet , in my opinion to resolve the issue.

Well, I was just reading the information about the repair install, and it says that you need the installation DVD in order to complete it. I don't have the DVD since the software was already on the computer when I purchased it.

Here is an idea, do you have a restore to factory setting /recovery console installed that you could just use ? You could save /backup programs you want to keep to a dvd and then use that Console, what is your make and model of computer ? Some do have a recovery console that will let you go to factory default of the OS installed, depending on OS installed. I did not get so lucky,i bought a cheap computer with only Vista Home Basic and the best i can do is use a back up that i made as soon as i found out that ALT F10 does not take me to where mine is , if i had one. * sigh * Post your computer info. and i will research it for you.

Umm i'm really not sure if there is an option for that or not. I don't even know where it would be located if it was an option. I have a Dell Inspiron 1521 running on Vista Home Basic 32bit. I think it's Service Pack 2 as well.

Rut roh !!! http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1521/en/om_en/pdf/RT722A02MR.pdf
Seems you need a dvd, you are gonna have to contact Dell and have them send you one. Check out the manual , PDF format, use adobe reader and in Trouble Shooting, expand the tree and you will see : Dell Factory Image Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it
was in when you purchased the computer. Dell Factory Image Restore
permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications
installed after you received the computer. Use Factory Image Restore only if
System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.
• If you received an Operating System disc with your computer, you can use
it to restore your operating system. However, using the Operating System
disc also deletes all data on the hard drive. Use the disc only if System
Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.

Sorry . unless townbg's link helps. i hope it does.

Thanks for that townsbg! After I did that, this is the message that was under event properties:

Activation context generation failed for "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Family Safety\fsapi.dll". Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC90.CRT,processorArchitecture="x86",publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b",type="win32",version="9.0.21022.8" could not be found. Please use sxstrace.exe for detailed diagnosis.


I don't know what it means.... Does that information help anyone?

Oh do I need to do a complete reinstall of Windows? Is that the only option to fix it? I'll have to look for the box to my computer, but I don't think there was a Windows disk in there, I could be wrong though. I'll check and see if there was anything with it.

I edited my post. If townbg's post does not help you , then acquiring the dvd would be the only way to get a clean install repair done. See what you can do with that site link he posted. Good luck .

I'm not entirely sure but I'd go with doing what he said. http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/283887-side-side-configuration.html#post1293020

If that doesn't work you might very well have to reinstall.

If you are going to reinstall, you may have a reinstall partition. You just press certain keys (usually f12) and your reinstalled. With the computer make and model we can get that information for you.

Okay, well let me look to see if I have any of the software DVD's that came with my computer. Thanks for your help guys.