Entry Point Not Found-The Procedure Entry Point gdigetbitmapbitssize could not be located in the dynamic link library GDI32.dll

This appears to happen when service pack 3 for windows xp is installed and goes sour on reboot.
The solution is very simple. In the case that hit my bench today it is this.
Boot from your windows CD to a repair windows screen so you can get to a prompt.
I assume your windows installation is the C drive. If not substitute it in the following lines.
Now type in the following
rename c:\windows\system32\gdi32.dll gdi32.old
copy c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\I386\gdi32.dll.old c:\windows\system32\gdi32.dll

You should get a 1 file copied.
Reboot.

QuickBooks fatal error M=1188, L=3476, C=315, V=0 (0x0)

Here's one that so far no one else ever found the solution. This may be just one solution but after looking all over the internet, seems to be the only one.
To solve this you need to notice on the panel on the left labeled "Open Windows". You will find quite a few windows open and when you try to do most anything you get the error. The number of open windows is stored in the data file so every time you open it you set yourself up for the error.
The solution: Just close the darn windows until the list is bare and then save the data file back. Presto! No more errors!

Cant copy update_SP2QFE.inf

This may very well apply to other updates. At least it is one solution found.
To fix this error you need to go to C:\WINDOWS\$hf_mig$
The service pack I was trying to install was KB958215-IE7. It just so happens that the installation was trying to open a folder called KB958215-IE7\update to install the file update_SP2QFE.inf
The problem was that there was a file called KB958215-IE7. Of course a file and fold cannot exist in the same directory with the same name. Deleting the file totally resolved the error and the installation finished.

Windows update takes you to MSN

This seems to be a rare case but here is what was found. First the IP address set to obtain it automatically, would switch between 2 addresses. It is irrelevant which 2 but after about a half an hour one would stay on long enough to be able to do something online. However windows update took you to MSN so updates could not be done. Defender was unable to update as was AVG. When I applied a static IP I noticed the dns filled in with 2 sets of numbers that I had not chosen and could not change.
This led me to the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{c597fac3-1744-4d67-8484-77c8aa503b99}\NameServer
where the dns numbers were found. Data: 85.255.114.41,85.255.112.130
I deleted the key {c597fac3-1744-4d67-8484-77c8aa503b99} and then went back to networking where I changed it back to automatic and repaired the connection.
This fixed it. Since the system was heavily infected it was obviously caused by on of the nasties lurking around.

The Mysterious Disappearing CD in Vista

The symptoms- Can't see the cd drive in My Computer and when you go to Device Manager the CD is flagged with a Code 10 saying it can't start the driver.

Remove the upperfilters and lowerfilters from the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

and reboot.