Member Avatar for tez

After booting up in ME I get the message
"Hpsom has caused an error in OLEAUT32.DLL. Hpsom will now close"
Can anyone tell me what this means please? Everything seems OK although the printer (HP) seems to take ages to start to print when required, and the system crashes - but then that's 'ME', even after a clean re-install last week!!
Tez :sad:

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jmspicer

Dani AI

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Brief summary — that popup is the HP startup/component process (often shown as HPosm or HPOSM) crashing when it calls Windows’ OLE Automation library (OLEAUT32.DLL). In plain terms: an HP helper that starts with Windows is trying to use a system COM/OLE routine and either finds the wrong version of the DLL, a corrupted DLL, or is incompatible with the OS, so Windows shuts that HP process down. (forums.tomshardware.com)

Practical checks (fast, in order): boot once with the printer physically switched off — if the message disappears that strongly points at the HP startup item (as observed). Use the System Configuration utility (msconfig) to disable any HP startup entries named HPosm, HP Instant Support, Digital Imaging Monitor, etc., then reboot and test. If disabling fixes it you can leave the helper off or remove/reinstall the HP software properly. (support.microsoft.com)

If the problem persists, reinstall the HP driver/software that matches Windows ME (older OSes need ME-compatible packages). Fully remove the HP software from Add/Remove Programs, reboot, then install the correct package from the vendor. Also temporarily allow or disable third‑party security/firewall software while testing — conflicts there can block HP helper components and cause crashes. Don’t grab random DLLs from “DLL download” sites; restore system files only from the OS/media, Windows’ tools, or official vendor updates. (forums.tomshardware.com)

Tie back to the thread: ’s driver-update suggestion and ’s Instant‑Support/firewall angle are both on point; ’s printer-off-at-boot workaround is a useful diagnostic and short‑term fix. If you want next steps, post the exact error dump (full message and EIP/EAX lines) and which HP model/driver you installed — that makes it possible to recommend the specific ME-compatible package or a safe way to remove the HP helper without losing printing functionality.

Recommended Answers

All 5 Replies

Member Avatar for dlh6213

Try updating the drivers for your printer and see if that helps:

It's also possible this is a firewall or router related issue, did you install either of these shortly before the problem started?

Member Avatar for Joannem

I'm having the same problem I Just added a HP printer and updated my McAfee virus protection. I have no idea where to start. :(

Member Avatar for Catweazle

Probably a conflict between the "HP Instant Support" and the security protection on the PC. Either enable the HP software to get through the firewall or disable the software from running - it's not needed anyway!

http://www.nocrash.com/ncbbs/msgs/3417.shtml

That discussion will tell you more details about it all.

Member Avatar for jmspicer

I'm having the same problem I Just added a HP printer and updated my McAfee virus protection. I have no idea where to start. :(

Same problem. When I turn on my computer I have printer, monitor, scanner, modem, etc. all on a zip strip that turns them all on at the flick of a switch. I have found that if I keep the printer turned off at the printer switch and only turn it on only after everything is loaded I eliminate the error message.

Member Avatar for jmspicer

Try keeping the printer turned off at the printer switch until everything is loaded

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