side-by-side configuration error

'the side-by-side configuration is incorrect. please see the application event log for more detail.' this is the message that appears when i try to open certain programmes most frustratingly microsoft office and windows live messenger, i have read may of the threads and followed most of the instructions but to no avail. can someone help, treat me as a complete computer noob. any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

I think that you have to install the VC++ 2008 runtime redistributable package on other PCs which doesn't have VC 2008 installed. Download the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package (x86) from here and install it in your pc. After that check whether you are facing the same problem or not and reply back here.