Vista - keep getting 'not a valid WIN32 App error message

I have a new Vista windows Basic system. When I try to download SKYPE or MSN
Messenger I get the error message and the program download closes. Also the
download time is very long.
Is there a fix for that or is something wrong with the computer? --
Thanks

Have you learned in school how to ask questions?
Jack

"LCMJ" <LCMJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C08F5BE0-D924-491B-999F-C113DC59DEF5@microsoft.com...
>I have a new Vista windows Basic system. When I try to download SKYPE or
>MSN
> Messenger I get the error message and the program download closes. Also
> the
> download time is very long.
> Is there a fix for that or is something wrong with the computer? --
> Thanks

"LCMJ" <LCMJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote ...
>I have a new Vista windows Basic system. When I try to download SKYPE or
>MSN
> Messenger I get the error message and the program download closes. Also
> the
> download time is very long.
> Is there a fix for that or is something wrong with the computer? --

You'll get this "not a valid Win32 app" error when Windows tries to run an
EXE or DLL file which is not actually an executable. This can happen if the
EXE or DLL file is corrupted or damaged. It can also sometimes happen if you
try to download a file by choosing the "Open" option - that makes Windows
download and run the file in the same operation; if it tries to run the file
before it's fully downloaded, you would get the same effect as a corrupted
EXE.

When you download, say, Skype, try saving the download to disk first. And
then run the downloaded file from wherever you saved it on disk.

Unless you mean you get this error even when you try to download and save to
disk, without opening the downloaded file - in which case, something has got
messed up on your computer.

Hope it helps,
Andrew

Thanks Andrew. I'll give it a try saving the download to disk. I'll let you
know what happens.
--
Thanks


"Andrew McLaren" wrote:

> "LCMJ" <LCMJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote ...
> >I have a new Vista windows Basic system. When I try to download SKYPE or
> >MSN
> > Messenger I get the error message and the program download closes. Also
> > the
> > download time is very long.
> > Is there a fix for that or is something wrong with the computer? --
>
> You'll get this "not a valid Win32 app" error when Windows tries to run an
> EXE or DLL file which is not actually an executable. This can happen if the
> EXE or DLL file is corrupted or damaged. It can also sometimes happen if you
> try to download a file by choosing the "Open" option - that makes Windows
> download and run the file in the same operation; if it tries to run the file
> before it's fully downloaded, you would get the same effect as a corrupted
> EXE.
>
> When you download, say, Skype, try saving the download to disk first. And
> then run the downloaded file from wherever you saved it on disk.
>
> Unless you mean you get this error even when you try to download and save to
> disk, without opening the downloaded file - in which case, something has got
> messed up on your computer.
>
> Hope it helps,
> Andrew
>
>

On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:21:59 -0400, Jack wrote:

> Have you learned in school how to ask questions?
> Jack
>

Have you learned in school how to properly post? Apparently not.

--
Stephan