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Former Member · September 2010

Ok I got in from work today and turned my laptop on and got this message:

msnmsgr.exe - Bad Image

C:\Windows\system32\SensApi.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try reinstalling the program again using the original media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support.

The message will not go away and it also does the same with some other programs.
I attempted to do a system restore but windows explorer is now not working properly. I cannot get into control panel either.

So I restarted in safe mode to attempt the same procedures there with no luck. It seemed to work fine but when I restarted in normal mode the same thing happened again.

I'm really bad with the workings of computers and only really know how to use them, not what to do when they fail.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I am running Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2 on a Toshiba Satellite P300 - 160.

Thank you.

Former Member · September 2010

You could try the following :

1. Open a command prompt.

To do this, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
sfc /scannow (note the space after sfc)

The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

Former Member · September 2010

if that doesnt work:
How to Fix Sensapi.dll Errors
Important: Do not download sensapi.dll from a "DLL download" website. There are many reasons why downloading a DLL file is a bad idea. If you need a copy of sensapi.dll, it's best to obtain it from its original, legitimate source.
Note: Start Windows in Safe Mode to complete any of the following steps if you're unable to access Windows normally due to the sensapi.dll error.

Restore sensapi.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" sensapi.dll file is that you've mistakenly deleted it.

If you suspect that you've accidentally deleted sensapi.dll but you've already emptied the Recycle Bin, you may be able to recover sensapi.dll with a free file recovery program.

Important: Recovering a deleted copy of sensapi.dll with a file recovery program is a smart idea only if you're confident you've deleted the file yourself and that it was working properly before you did that.

Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some sensapi.dll errors could be related to a virus or other malware infection on your computer that has damaged the DLL file. It's even possible that the sensapi.dll error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect that the sensapi.dll error was caused by a change made to an important file or configuration, a System Restore could solve the problem.

Reinstall the program that uses the sensapi.dll file. If the sensapi.dll DLL error occurs when you use a particular program, reinstalling the program should replace the file.

Important: Try your best to complete this step. Reinstalling the program that provides the sensapi.dll file, if possible, is a likely solution to this DLL error.

Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to sensapi.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file sensapi.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating the drivers for your video card.

Note: The sensapi.dll file may or may not be related to video cards - this was just an example. The key here is to pay very close attention to the context of the error and troubleshoot accordingly.

Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if sensapi.dll errors began after updating a particular hardware device's driver.

Run the sfc /scannow System File Checker command to replace a missing or corrupt copy of the sensapi.dll file. If this DLL file is provided my Microsoft, the System File Checker tool should restore it.

Install any available Windows updates. Many service packs and other patches replace or update some of the hundreds of Microsoft distributed DLL files on your computer. The sensapi.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

Test your memory and then test your hard drive. I've left the majority of hardware troubleshooting to the last step, but your computer's memory and hard drive are easy to test and are the most likely components that might cause sensapi.dll errors as they fail.

If the hardware fails any of your tests, replace the memory or replace the hard drive as soon as possible.

Repair your installation of Windows. If the individual sensapi.dll file troubleshooting advice above is unsuccessful, performing a startup repair or repair installation should restore all Windows DLL files to their working versions.

Use a free registry cleaner to repair sensapi.dll related issues in the registry. A free registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid sensapi.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

Important: I rarely recommend the use of registry cleaners. I've included the option here as a "last resort" attempt before the destructive step coming up next.

Perform a clean installation of Windows. A clean install of Windows will erase everything from the hard drive and install a fresh copy of Windows. If none of the steps above correct the sensapi.dll error, this should be your next course of action.

Important: All the information on your hard drive will be erased during a clean install. Make sure you've made the best attempt possible to fix the sensapi.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any sensapi.dll errors persist. After a clean install of Windows, your DLL problem can only be hardware related.

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