Can't run 32-bit software after Windows Update because of Side-by-side errors

[taude]

Hello All,
I'm running 64-bit Windows Vista.

Yesterday, Windows Update did it's thing and tried installing Internet Explorer 8. Upon reboots, there was a message saying configuring updates, please wait. Then eventually, the update failed and a message said that installation was being reverted.

Now, when I go into Windows, anytime I try running a 32-bit application, I'm getting the following error: "The Aapplication has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log for more detail."

So I open the event viewer and I see the following: "Activation context generation failed for "System.Default Context".Error in manifest or policy file "C:\Windows\WinSXs\manifests\x86_microsoft.win ows-gdiplus_XXXX.manifest" on line 534. Invalid XML syntax

Then I tried running as admin from a console: sfc /scannow. It gets to 100%, but then throws an error: "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requrested operation." I've run this in Safe Mode, too.

I've also tried reinstalling the VC++ distributables, both 32-bit and 64-bit, however, the installer won't start because of the exact same side-by-side error.

Even my AntiVirus software can't start now.

Any suggestions on how to fix the corrupted manifest file, or to get this working again.