How to resolve the Smartbridge PSAPI.dll Error After Installing Internet Explorer 7

Problem:

After you install Internet Explorer 7 on a computer equipped with a DSL connection and connection management software (like the DSL Checkup Center) you may receive the following error each time you boot your PC:

Procedure entry point GetProcessImageFileNameW could not be located in the dynamic link library. PSAPI.DLL

This error is caused by an incorrect version of the PSAPI.dll file being referenced by the Smartbridge software. Smartbridge apparently tested their DSL connection management software (which is outsourced to many providers such as Alltel and Windstream) on a beta version of Internet Explorer 7. Microsoft changed certain aspects of IE7 before releasing the software out of Beta, and Smartbridge apparently did not update their software, thus generating an error.

Luckily, the Smartbridge error is not terribly complicated to repair, once you are pointed in the correct direction.

To resolve the Smartbridge PSAPI.dll problem, you must search for and rename all copies of the PSAPI.dll file on your PC. Follow the steps below to complete this process.

1. Close all unneeded programs and all Internet windows. Disconnect from your DSL if you can.
2. Left click on Start and then on Search
3. In the left pane of the search window, click on "All Files and Folders"
4. In the left pane of the search window in the "Name" box type PSAPI.dll
5. In the left pane of the search window, left click on the "More Advanced Options" selection
6. Make certain there is a check mark in "Search Hidden Files and Folders"
7. Make certain there is a check mark in "Search System Folders"
8. Make certain there is a check mark in "Search Subfolders"
9. Make certain the "Look in" box is searching in "Local Hard Drives"
10. Left click on the Search Button

Once you have located all of the PSAPI.dll files on your computer, you will need to rename them from PSAPI.dll to PSAPI.old.

1. Right click on the first PSAPI.dll file and then left click on rename
2. Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, navigate to ad delete the dll and replace it with the letters "old"
3. Press enter to complete the renaming process
4. Repeat on each PSAPI.dll file.

As you attempt to rename each of the files, you may notice that some of then will not have the "Rename" option. This is completely normal and if it happens to you, simply skip that file and move on to the next one.

The next page of this tutorial will instruct you to reboot your PC to continue the repair process. Some users have reported that IE7 does not work properly after the reboot. To ensure you have the ability to get on the Internet to fix a broken Internet Explorer installation, we STRONGLY advise you to download and install the free FireFox web browser.

Now that you have installed FireFox and renamed all of the PSAPI.dll files you are allowed to, you need to restart your computer. After your computer reboots, Windows XP should automatically replace each PSAPI.dll file you renamed with a new and up-to-date version. You should not receive the PSAPI.dll error message when you restart your PC.

This and other problems can be resolved and even prevented by installing the Google Pack of Essential Software. It is free, and has many software application to keep your computer safe, secure and running properly.