This article will provide steps to troubleshoot the following issues:

• Yahoo! Messenger crashing on Windows Vista
• Error message: "Yahoo.Messenger.YmApp has stopped working. A problem has caused the program to stop working correctly."
• Error message: "The application failed to initialize properly (ox0150002)"

Following the steps below will make sure that you have the latest versions of the software required to run Yahoo! Messenger and will also clean out any older versions that may be causing issues.

Uninstall Runtime Components:

1. On your keyboard, press the key combination Windows Logo + R. This opens the "Run" command. 
2. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK. This opens "Programs and Features." 
3. Select each of the following items and click the Uninstall button. There may be multiple installed versions, so be sure to remove all of them.

• Java
• Microsoft .NET Framework
• Microsoft Visual C++ 2005

4. When uninstall is complete, restart your computer.
5. Download and install the following Runtime Components updates to optimize your computer's compatibility with Yahoo! Messenger.

• Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista
• Java Runtime Environment
• DirectX Runtime Web Installer
• Visual C++ Runtime 2005
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4
• Internet Explorer 9

6. After installing these updates, restart your computer again, and then run Yahoo! Messenger.