::{26ee0668-a00a-44d7-9371-beb064c98683} error

Seen this issue before and it was the user profile.  There are two options:

1. Delete the user profile and create it again
2. Refer to link http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

Hi,

If you have your Windows 7 Install Media or if you created a System Restore Disk, try booting to the DVD and run System Restore from there.

If that’s not available, try running the System File Checker tool to attempt to repair any corrupted files in Windows.

To do this, go to Start, type command in the search box, in the search results, right click Command Prompt and choose  Run as Administrator.
In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press enter:  sfc /scannow

The scan should start and may take a few minutes to complete. After it is finished it should say if files were repaired or not.

Regards,
Manjunath S

just do a system restore to a date it was ok :
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

another guide :  http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/system-restore-windows-7.htm

I've attempted a couple of these before:
1)   System Restore - wouldn't run when double-clicked, so I did right-click - run as administrator - and it opened.  I chose the oldest restore point - which was only about 2 weeks old - and did not include the attempted Bing desktop installation.
2)  Start - command - sfc /scannow -  error - 'sfc' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

Okay, tried the Microsoft KB article too:
Start - Command Prompt => the expanded menu opened with Command Prompt being the top item.  I right-clicked it and selected "Run as Administrator" -  nothing happened for a minute or two, so I double-clicked.
This opened the DOS window - with \user\Tim (my profile) shown.
did the old DOS commands:  cd.. took up to \user.
did cd.. again - took up to root directory (C:\>).
Changed directory to C:\Windows\System32
entered sfc /scannow.
Got error that I needed to run as an administrator.
How to do that from the command prompt?

Note, since I can not open Control Panel within Windows, How can I create or even delete a user profile?
Note, this is running on a laptop where I am the primary user, and administrator.
The second user profile is for my wife, and does not have administrator rights.

Okay, tried something else -
Start - Command Prompt - rt.-click "run as administrator" - nothing happened.
So, clicked "Command Prompt" - got DOS screen at C:\users\Tim
did cd..
C:\users
dir
Tim
Administrator
did:  cd administrator
C:\users\administrator
sfc /scannow
did system scan with the following end result:
"Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violation."

Next?

i assume the system restore did not help?
i also assume you have no virus/malware?  if unsure, run an AV scan + these:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php                         MBAM
http://majorgeeks.com/RogueKiller_d6983.html                  Roguekiller

it may well be this ends in a fresh install, or factory restore

system restore made no difference.

I run TrendMicro antivirus - and have for years.
I've tried shutting off the antivirus too, but it didn't make a difference.

try a repair install then : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

Tx for closing and feedback Tim

Still not entirely sure where my computer stands as far as everything running at its best, but it is working.  Thanks again!