Can't open publisher - error message

I've googled this but don't understand some of the articles I'm finding....and they don't really seem to come to a viable solution....

I try to open Microsoft Publisher (which I bought less than a month ago and have created only 5 documents with...) and I'm getting this error message

"the application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log for more details"


I've tried simply re-starting my computer...I've uninstalled and re-installed, but still getting the same message.

I'm running Windows Vista

any ideas???

 

When googling info on my problem I keep finding something about C++ package.... (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...34-3E03-4391-8A4D-074B9F2BC1BF&displaylang=en ) it sounds like this may be a solution, but i'm relunctant to download it because i have no idea what it is or what to do with it once i download it.....any ideas????

oh, and yes, I've checked and have full updated version of windows vista

 

The C++ package is entirely safe (if downloaded from that MS link), and is probably required for MS Publisher. Download and run the .exe, and the install should be painless.

For example: on this Win 7 machine, I have 4 separate Visual C++ instances listed in Programs and Features.

 

Thank you. Unfortunately, though...it didn't work.... I would appreciate any other ideas though !