Error: "Failed to initialize script host" or "Script host failed to initialize"
Question

I am seeing a variation of this error message: "Failed to initialize script host" or "Script host failed to initialize". How do I fix this?
Answer

First, try the following:

1. Go to Start > Control Panel and go into Add or Remove programs (In Windows Vista this would be listed as Programs and Features)

2. Find the listing for Microsoft .NET Framework. Select this and choose 'Change/Remove'.

3. In the next screen click the option for Repair. If you do not see an option to repair or doing so does not resolve your issue, please follow these instructions to go through a complete clean reinstallation of the application.

Clean Reinstallation Instructions:

All audio and video effects chains and presets will be erased, so if you need to make a back up of your presets please download our Preset Manager program. This is available from our website here.

Safely disconnect any any external USB or Firewire devices like hard-drives or dongles.

Please go to Start > Control Panel and open the Add/Remove Programs control panel. (In Windows Vista, click Start and then type "Programs and Features" in the Start Search box. In the Programs list, click Programs and Features).

Remove anything with a name containing Sony ACID, Sony Sound Forge, Sony Vegas, Sony DVD Architect, Sony CD Architect or Sony Media Manager, as well as any other Sonic Foundry, Sony Media Software or Sony Creative Software programs.

Remaining in the Add or Remove Programs window, find and remove Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (SONY_MEDIAMGR), any and all Microsoft .NET Framework versions, and all listings for Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable software if listed.

Close the Control Panel and using My Computer navigate to the the following folder:

C:\Program Files\Sony

If there are any folders corresponding to Sony Creative Software, such as ACID, Vegas, DVD Architect, Media Manager, Sound Forge, Shared Plug-Ins, or any of our software you may have installed, please remove these folders.

Next, find C:\Program Files\Sony Setup

Please delete the entire folder along with any of its contents.

Disable everything under Services and Startup in the System Configuration Utility. Do this by going to Start > Run, then type MSCONFIG (in Windows Vista, click Start and then type MSCONFIG in the Start Search box). Click the Services tab, checkmark Hide All Microsoft Services. Now click Disable All and Apply. Now click the Startup tab and click Disable All. Click Apply and Close. Choose to restart the computer. (Later, to restore your computer back to its normal startup mode, go back to the MSCONFIG window and under General tab select Normal Startup. Apply, Close, and restart your computer).

Once again, go to Start > Run and type REGEDIT. This will take you into the Registry Editor.

**Before making changes to your registry, we advise that you save a backup. If you are unfamiliar with this operation you may want to contact your IT personal or take a look at this article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756- How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista**

Locate the following keys and delete them:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sonic Foundry
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sony Media Software
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sony Creative Software

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Sonic Foundry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Sony Media Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Sony Creative Software

Now download the latest update for your software. You can find the latest update for any program when you click here. When finished downloading, please install the software directly from these downloaded updates and not from any previous updates or discs you may have. When finished with all reinstallation, please restart your computer. When your computer has restarted, your software will have a complete clean installation.