STrange error importing win32gui

[Jay O'Connor]

I'm using Python 2.3 on windows and trying to use the win32 libs.  I
keep getting the following error

>>> import win32gui

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#6>", line 1, in -toplevel-
    import win32gui
ImportError: DLL load failed: A device attached to the system is not
functioning.

I'm not sure what it means ot how to fix it.  Any thoughts?