So, I'm working on my Aunt's laptop and I'm tearing my hair out. Reinstall isn't the best option here because she doesn't have access to all the software she uses (nor can I get access to some of it as it's older genealogy stuff). Essentially it all started w/ this: I.E. 10 upon opening reports two crashes (one after the next, then the second just continues until the page load completes) Host Process for Windows Tasks has stopped working Application name taskhost.exe Fautl Module Esent.dll Version 6.1.7601.22100 Then Com Surrogate has stopped working Application name Dllhost.ext Fault Module esent.dll version same as above Upgrade to I.E. 11, problem persists, removed flash, problem persists removed quicktime, problem persists redid graphics drivers, problem persists ran checkdisk, problem persists installed update that included esent.dll, problem persists downgrading to windows 9, problem gone downgraded to windows 8, problem gone removed windows 8 installed I.E. 10 stand alone w/ no internet problem still there....... Any help please.
Weirdest thing I've seen but it was something to do with her user account. ending up just doing an easy transfer to a new user account. I would still like to get an idea of what the cause might have been in case I run into it again.
Profiles do become corrupt and damaged. That's one reason every computer I build or repair leaves my shop with at least two users. Your auntie (you?) need to have a recovery plan: restore point, system image, data backup routine, copies of programs and etc. Sooner or later we all get bitten by the disaster bug.