That does work and is probably the best method to get of the error as you don't have to remove the update, uninstall Windows Messenger, or prevent MCE from using messenger.

Steps to perform to get this done:

1. Open Notepad and copy and paste the following into it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]
"AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure"=dword:00000001

2. Go to File-->Save As... save the file on the desktop as messengerfix.reg

3. Launch messengerfix.reg and hit yes.

4. Open media center, issue should be resolved

 

Richard A Miller:

Another possible work around.

 

There was something in the KB946648 about registry change.

I am not in front of a XP MCE PC now so I can not test this, if anyone wants to try it to see if works, I think ehshell.exe may work (not 100% sure).

 

KB946648 @ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946648

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]

"AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure"=dword:00000001

Nirojan:

That does work and is probably the best method to get of the error as you don't have to remove the update, uninstall Windows Messenger, or prevent MCE from using messenger.

Steps to perform to get this done:

1. Open Notepad and copy and paste the following into it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]
"AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure"=dword:00000001

2. Go to File-->Save As... save the file on the desktop as messengerfix.reg

3. Launch messengerfix.reg and hit yes.

4. Open media center, issue should be resolved

 

Richard A Miller:

Another possible work around.

 

There was something in the KB946648 about registry change.

I am not in front of a XP MCE PC now so I can not test this, if anyone wants to try it to see if works, I think ehshell.exe may work (not 100% sure).

 

KB946648 @ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946648

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]

"AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure"=dword:00000001

Good glad that worked.

---

Richard Miller Media Center MVP 2006

I tried and got this :  Cannot import ------messengerfix.reg: The specified file is not a registry script. You can only import bianary registry files from within the registry editor. ???

dondjohnson:

I tried and got this :  Cannot import ------messengerfix.reg: The specified file is not a registry script. You can only import bianary registry files from within the registry editor. ???

try this one

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]
"AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure"=dword:00000001"

Not this one its missing the (")

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]
"AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure"=dword:00000001

Edit too Add : The one in red is the correct one.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]
"AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure"=dword:00000001

 

---

Richard Miller Media Center MVP 2006

Sorry I still got the same error message

Ok wait on this registry change, until I test this myself this weekend.

---

Richard Miller Media Center MVP 2006

dondjohnson:

I tried and got this :  Cannot import ------messengerfix.reg: The specified file is not a registry script. You can only import bianary registry files from within the registry editor. ???

 

Nirojan's Registry post imported fine on my MCE system.  Make sure you save the file as a .reg, and then double-click on the file you just saved.  Windows will ask if you want to import the settings -  confirm and you should be good-to-go.  After that the "Allow Instant Messages within Media Center" box is available to un-check in settings.

Sorry folks I get the same error. I don't have messenger installed but it seems to have a problem with some kind of bianary format.

This fix should work. I think you're not doing something right :(. Messenger comes preinstalled with Windows, btw.

The registry add works, copy and paste below and save as a reg file (whatever.reg) in notepad.

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]

"AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure"=dword:00000001

 

 

 

---

Richard Miller Media Center MVP 2006

OK, I got it this time. I don't know why, but thsts not important. Question: does this need to be run every time I do a systen upgradE? How about if I do a clean install?

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!

Okay, I did that and it changed my registry. I rebooted. I don't get the messenger isn't there message, but MCE still terminates within 3 seconds of opening. Can't even get to the Settings menu before it aborts and asks me if I want to send an error message to Microsoft. Which I've done about 50 times the past few days. LOL.

Any way to change that settings in MCE without running MCE? Is there a settings file somewhere that can be physically editted and updated via notepad?

It sounds like you have more troubles than just the messenger issue. When was the last time you did a fresh install of windows?

I've never done a fresh install of windows...

I did just try uninstalling KB946648, and that didn't help. MCE shuts down within a few seconds of starting. I don't get an error message, it just shuts down and asks me if I want to send an error report to MSFT.

Nothing in this article helped?
http://da.vidnicholson.com/2007/01/how-to-fix-media-center.html