computer accepts software but does nothing when trying to use it.

a few more things that I forgot to add to this post.  The first time I try to open the software after a reinstall I get a message saying that there is an error that has occurred in the script on this page.

He has 20.95 gigs of harddrive space

ok try this.  go to control panel>system>advanced tab>under prefomance settings>advanced tab>virtual memory change>click custom size.  I would recommend that the size is 50% more than your memory.  So if you have 512 MB RAM then you should make the settings 768 MB.  Put 768 in both of the two spaces.  Then click set and ok and exit out and see if that works.

I tried the virtual memory change, he has 128 megs of installed memory so I set the virtual memory min and max to 256 like you suggested.  I restart the computer reintall the software and I get the same situation.  The first time I try to run the software I get a Script error.  The error says "library not registered" the URL it lists is file://c:\Program File\Hewlett-Packard\DigitalImaging\bbfe\director\director.htm
It says do you want to continue running scripts on this page?
The next time I try to run the software it does nothing just sits there.  
THere have been a lot of other odd things going on with this computer.  When trying to shut down it keeps giving me the end task window even though I have no programs running.  I've taken all of the programs out of the auto start up tool, I've ran ad aware software and have up to date virus definitions for norton antivirus.  any advice on where to start with this would be appreciated

>He has plenty of available memory so I'm not sure if that is the issue.  I'm not sure where to start with this problem.
not true if he is running XP.  XP uses 128 MB just for the operating system.  What operating styem is it?  

>The first time I try to run the software I get a Script error.  The error says "library not registered" the URL it lists is file://c:\Program File\Hewlett-Packard\DigitalImaging\bbfe\director\director.htm
It says do you want to continue running scripts on this page?

It seems that it is not opening the program becuase the file you listed is an IE file.  Meaning webpage type file.  The error that you get also has to with IE not a program file.  <strange>.

When you unistalled how did you do it?  If you used the unistall wizard many times there will still be files on your computer that have to deal with the program.

He is running windows 98se, when I unistall I've been using the uninstall wizard.  How can I uninstall every file related to this issue.  Normally I would explore the c: drive and delete any files that were related to the scanner but he has other HP software for an hp printer so I don't know which one's to leave and which files to delete.  It would not be a problem to uninstall the printer as well as the scanner and start from scratch on both of them if you feel that is neccesary.  
I'm not sure why I get that script error but I've tried two different installation disks because I have two of the same scanners and I get the same error from both installation disks.  
I appreciate you taking the time to consider this question and if you come up with anything else that may help I would appriciate any advice.

>Normally I would explore the c: drive and delete any files that were related to the scanner but he has other HP software for an hp printer so I don't know which one's to leave and which files to delete.  It would not be a problem to uninstall the printer as well as the scanner and start from scratch on both of them if you feel that is neccesary.  

I think that if you can't determine which files belong to the to the printer and the scanner that you should just delete all of them. If you can determine which files belong to which, try deleting them and see what happens.  If you have to delete all the files hopeful you will not run into this problem with the printer.

I would just guess that there are several files that are still around and it is screwing some things up.

Thanks for the help shaharidzal, I'm not sure which of your suggestions worked because he already had IE 6.0.  I reinstalled it though and cleaned out the temp and cookies and it seemed to work.  There must have been something wrong with his IE 6.0 but it's working now.  I want to thank everyone for there suggestions and quick responses.  This website is a life saver.

glad you found the problem.  Still don't know what IE has to do with a scanner, but it works now.