Application Error, Failed to Initialize Properly (0xc000012d)

My 77 year old mother in law dropped off her old Compaq desk top computer and asked for help with a failure to boot up problem so I am trying to help with my limited knowledge.

Computer is an older Compaq Deskpro EN, Pent III 863 MHz, 384 mb RAM, with Win XP Pro version 2002 SP 2. She said the grandkids got on the computer during Christmas Holidays, surfed the net, and suddenly computer would not work or boot up. At start up the computer goes to the desk top screen but with no icons, then this application error code message pops up:

"userinit.exe application error, the application failed to initialize properly (0xc000012d). Click OK to terminate".

I can boot it up in safe mode as administrator or user but don't know where to go from there to determine the problem or fix. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Dave
Central Florida, USA

Edited by Davexx1, 05 January 2011 - 09:52 AM.