Hi Don,

I followed numerous leads in your suggestions. So much so I now can't
tell you which of the leads solved my problem. In any case I thank you
and my solution was:

I had installed IE8B before XP SP3. I figured this had something to do
with my problem with IE8B. I tried a couple of ways to uninstall XP SP3
without success. Your leads help me to a command that got the
unistaller going. Once removed I have had no problems with IE8B or
Chrome. So problem solved.

You might tell me now however, what do I do in regard to SP3 ... ignore
it an suppose that Windows Update will install all the patches in good
time?

Thanks again for get things going again.

Regards

Tom

"Don Varnau" <don_04[at]varnau[dot]org> wrote in message
news:#28q65hDJHA.528@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> Hi,
> If SP3 was installed after IE8 beta, you will have to remove SP3 before
> uninstalling IE8.
> See: IEBlog- IE and Windows XP Service Pack 3
> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...and-xpsp3.aspx
>
> Before you uninstall either SP3 or IE8, a third-party program is probably
> causing the error.
> Start IE7 without add-ons from:
> Right-click the IE icon on the desktop. Choose Start without add-ons.
> or
> Programs> Accessories> System tools> Internet Explorer (no add-ons)
>
> If the problem goes away, you have an incompatible browser add-on installed.
> See: http://www.enhanceie.com/ie/troubleshoot.asp
> for troubleshooting information.
> More at:
> IEBlog Troubleshooting and Internet Explorer's (No Add-ons) Mode:
> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/07/25/678113.aspx
> - - -
> The troublesome program may not be a browser add-on.
> See: 936214- How to troubleshoot compatibility problems that affect IE7 in
> Windows Vista:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936214 (Also applies to XP)
>
> Hope this helps,
> Don
> [MS MVP- IE]
>
> "Tom Stuart" <tom@uniting.com.au> wrote in message
> news:uH8VrshDJHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> > I upgraded to IE8beta. I also installed SP3. Since then I've been
> > getting the following error when attempting to start IE8beta:
> > ---------------
> > iexplore.exe - Application Error
> > The instruction at "0x5a913420" referenced memory at "0x5a913420". The
> > memory could not be "written".
> > Click on OK to terminate the program
> > Click on CANCEL to debug the program
> > ----------------
> > When I try to uninstall IE8BETA I get a message saying it cannot be
> > uninstalled. When I try to install IE7 over the top I get told that I
> > can't install it since there is a later version already installed.
> >
> > Firefox works okay. However I tried the new Google Chrome to see if it
> > works and it gives the exact same error apart from the iexplore.exe is
> > chrome.exe.
> >
> > I'd be glad of any help with this problem.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Tom