Messenger problem.

I have had to completely uninstall my Messenger because I was get the
following when I would get to my desk top. MSNMSGR.exe - Bad Image. The
application or DLL C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MSIMG32.dll is not
a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation diskette.
I have been browsing the Messenger postings for help but can find none. I
have Windows XP Professional. Internet Explorer 7. Can you help?
--
Becca54

"Becca54" <> wrote in message
news:20CCBDE4-5954-46E2-AF8E-...
> I have had to completely uninstall my Messenger because I was get the
> following when I would get to my desk top. MSNMSGR.exe - Bad Image. The
> application or DLL C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MSIMG32.dll is
> not
> a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation
> diskette.
> I have been browsing the Messenger postings for help but can find none. I
> have Windows XP Professional. Internet Explorer 7. Can you help?
> --
> Becca54


One possibility is that you have picked a 64-bit version to install on a
32-bit machine.

Greetings Becca,

MSIMG32.DLL actually isn't a file included in the normal Messenger install. It's used by
Messenger Plus and other similar Messenger add-ons to automatically load themselves into the
Messenger executable.

That said, just go into the \Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger folder and delete the file.
Messenger should start after that.

If you were using Messenger Plus, you'll need to reinstall it afterwards.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2010 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Becca54" <> wrote in message
news:20CCBDE4-5954-46E2-AF8E-...
> I have had to completely uninstall my Messenger because I was get the
> following when I would get to my desk top. MSNMSGR.exe - Bad Image. The
> application or DLL C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MSIMG32.dll is not
> a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation diskette.
> I have been browsing the Messenger postings for help but can find none. I
> have Windows XP Professional. Internet Explorer 7. Can you help?
> --
> Becca54

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Greetings Becca,
>
> MSIMG32.DLL actually isn't a file included in the normal Messenger
> install. It's used by Messenger Plus and other similar Messenger add-ons
> to automatically load themselves into the Messenger executable.


Jonathan,

<cmd_output OS="W7">
C:\>dir/a/b/s msimg32*
C:\Windows\System32\msimg32.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msimg32.dll
C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-gdi-painting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600
..16385_none_d360c9c235bd1868\msimg32.dll
C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-gdi-painting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.1
6385_none_77422e3e7d5fa732\msimg32.dll

</cmd_output>

I know nothing about Messenger Plus, unless its something that HP have
added? ; )


Robert
---


>
> That said, just go into the \Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger folder
> and delete the file. Messenger should start after that.
>
> If you were using Messenger Plus, you'll need to reinstall it afterwards.
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> (c) 2010 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature
> or citation
> --
>
>
> "Becca54" <> wrote in message
> news:20CCBDE4-5954-46E2-AF8E-...
>> I have had to completely uninstall my Messenger because I was get the
>> following when I would get to my desk top. MSNMSGR.exe - Bad Image. The
>> application or DLL C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MSIMG32.dll is
>> not
>> a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation
>> diskette.
>> I have been browsing the Messenger postings for help but can find none.
>> I
>> have Windows XP Professional. Internet Explorer 7. Can you help?
>> --
>> Becca54
>
>

Hi,

As I said, it's not part of Messenger or in the Messenger folder, it is actually part of
Windows as you're showing. That's why this works for add-ons, because Messenger looks for
the DLL first in its own folder (where it normally wouldn't be), and then the Windows folder
second.

The add-ons place their initialization in this file, which Messenger loads and then loads
their add-on. Also, any calls to the Messenger folder DLL can be proxied to the real Windows
folder one.

If you're interested in playing around with this,
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/macros/wlmplugin.aspx for instance will show you had to make
one, among other articles.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2010 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Robert Aldwinckle" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Greetings Becca,
>>
>> MSIMG32.DLL actually isn't a file included in the normal Messenger install. It's used by
>> Messenger Plus and other similar Messenger add-ons to automatically load themselves into
>> the Messenger executable.
>
>
> Jonathan,
>
> <cmd_output OS="W7">
> C:\>dir/a/b/s msimg32*
> C:\Windows\System32\msimg32.dll
> C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msimg32.dll
> C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-gdi-painting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600
> .16385_none_d360c9c235bd1868\msimg32.dll
> C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-gdi-painting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.1
> 6385_none_77422e3e7d5fa732\msimg32.dll
>
> </cmd_output>
>
> I know nothing about Messenger Plus, unless its something that HP have added? ; )
>
>
> Robert
> ---
>
>
>>
>> That said, just go into the \Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger folder and delete the
>> file. Messenger should start after that.
>>
>> If you were using Messenger Plus, you'll need to reinstall it afterwards.
>>
>> --
>> Jonathan Kay
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
>> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
>> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
>> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>> (c) 2010 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
>> --
>>
>>
>> "Becca54" <> wrote in message
>> news:20CCBDE4-5954-46E2-AF8E-...
>>> I have had to completely uninstall my Messenger because I was get the
>>> following when I would get to my desk top. MSNMSGR.exe - Bad Image. The
>>> application or DLL C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MSIMG32.dll is not
>>> a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation diskette.
>>> I have been browsing the Messenger postings for help but can find none. I
>>> have Windows XP Professional. Internet Explorer 7. Can you help?
>>> --
>>> Becca54
>>
>>

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi,
>
> As I said, it's not part of Messenger or in the Messenger folder, it is
> actually part of Windows as you're showing. That's why this works for
> add-ons, because Messenger looks for the DLL first in its own folder
> (where it normally wouldn't be), and then the Windows folder second.
>
> The add-ons place their initialization in this file, which Messenger loads
> and then loads their add-on. Also, any calls to the Messenger folder DLL
> can be proxied to the real Windows folder one.


Thanks. I think that makes it clearer what you were suggesting be deleted.
Also, I hadn't noticed the significance of the path the OP had given when I
made my first comment. ; )


Robert
--


>
> If you're interested in playing around with this,
> http://www.codeproject.com/KB/macros/wlmplugin.aspx for instance will show
> you had to make one, among other articles.
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> (c) 2010 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature
> or citation
> --
>
>
> "Robert Aldwinckle" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>
>> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Greetings Becca,
>>>
>>> MSIMG32.DLL actually isn't a file included in the normal Messenger
>>> install. It's used by Messenger Plus and other similar Messenger
>>> add-ons to automatically load themselves into the Messenger executable.
>>
>>
>> Jonathan,
>>
>> <cmd_output OS="W7">
>> C:\>dir/a/b/s msimg32*
>> C:\Windows\System32\msimg32.dll
>> C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msimg32.dll
>> C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-gdi-painting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600
>> .16385_none_d360c9c235bd1868\msimg32.dll
>> C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-gdi-painting_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.1
>> 6385_none_77422e3e7d5fa732\msimg32.dll
>>
>> </cmd_output>
>>
>> I know nothing about Messenger Plus, unless its something that HP have
>> added? ; )
>>
>>
>> Robert
>> ---
>>
>>
>>>
>>> That said, just go into the \Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger folder
>>> and delete the file. Messenger should start after that.
>>>
>>> If you were using Messenger Plus, you'll need to reinstall it
>>> afterwards.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Jonathan Kay
>>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
>>> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
>>> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
>>> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>>> (c) 2010 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this
>>> signature or citation
>>> --
>>>
>>>
>>> "Becca54" <> wrote in message
>>> news:20CCBDE4-5954-46E2-AF8E-...
>>>> I have had to completely uninstall my Messenger because I was get the
>>>> following when I would get to my desk top. MSNMSGR.exe - Bad Image.
>>>> The
>>>> application or DLL C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MSIMG32.dll
>>>> is not
>>>> a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation
>>>> diskette.
>>>> I have been browsing the Messenger postings for help but can find none.
>>>> I
>>>> have Windows XP Professional. Internet Explorer 7. Can you help?
>>>> --
>>>> Becca54
>>>
>>>
>

It's a neat trick

Unfortunately some programmers don't pull it off very well and Messenger gets screwed up.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2010 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Robert Aldwinckle" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Thanks. I think that makes it clearer what you were suggesting be deleted. Also, I hadn't
> noticed the significance of the path the OP had given when I made my first comment. ; )