Programs Stall During Initialisation

For some time I have been experiencing a problem with Internet Explorer v6 (on a WinXPSP2 with most updates installed) where when I click on the icon in my Quick Launch Bar, the IE window does not open. At first I would try to click on the icon again and sometimes it took 3 or 4 clicks before an IE browser window opened. When I check Task Manager, I found that there would be the corresponding number of iexplore.exe processes with the failed attempts showing about 15K of memory usage and the successful attempt showing about 24K. Now a friend has a similar problem with her Husqvarna Viking 3D and 4D Embroidery programs. She runs the program on both a Desktop and a Notebook, both with Windows XPSP2 and she applies all Windows updates automatically. She had installed the 3D version of the program in July 2004; the problem started happening intermittently in about June 2006. She hoped that when she upgraded to the 4D version of the program in June 2007 it would be solved but that is not so. A component of the program, DesignerSECommuni.exe (which allows communication via USB cable to her embroidery sewing machine) should run on starting Windows and place an icon in her System Tray. If the icon is missing, Task Manager shows memory usage for the program as about 5K on her Desktop (I didn't see the problem on her Notebook). If the icon appears normally, memory usage on her Notebook is 6,928K and on the Desktop is 9,184K. We are wondering if this could be related to a Windows update but have no idea how to confirm this or identify the culprit. Does anyone have any ideas on how to resolve these problems of programs not completing their startup process?

Sometimes an application program will develop errors of its own.
Particularly if the application has been updated.
Updates "may" leave remnants of the older version laying around the System32 folder and in the Registry.

A common first-line of repair when dealing with application programs like your friend's embroidery application, is to use the application's own Uninstall utility or the MS Control Panel - Add/Remove, to completely uninstall the application, and then install the program again freshly.

Note: after uninstalling, it is useful to run MS Disk Cleanup (Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup) and then run Disk Defragmenter (Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Defragmenter) before installing, and then repeat after installing.
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As to your own problem with IE 6.0, …. sure, you could have experienced a bad download of critical updates and patches, but that is a rather specific and remote possibility. Doing an Internet Explorer Repair is Recommended.

Use the instructions in the following link, here:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/repair_reinstall_ie_and_oe_6.htm
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What if none of the above is of much use in resolving your problems?

Provide us with additional information about your machine, applications, and progress in resolving the problems.

One of the best, and easiest ways to convey an excellent overview of your machine is to Run the PCPitstop Full Tests, here:
http://www.pcpitstop.com

You will have to register with a valid email address and create your own password.
You will have to accept an ActiveX component to allow your machine to run the Full Tests.
Both are SAFE and FREE.

Post the TechExpress link to your Results back here into this Forum thread, so that we can review the results and possibly provide additional assistance.

Best Regards

Thanks, Doug. I'll apply your help to my IE problem and let you know how I go. I'll need to visit my friend (about an hour's drive into town) to try to fix her embroidry program issue; I'll let you know how that goes as well.