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so i've seen dozens of fixes for this, but none of them worked for me. i went to cmd prompt put in the directory
c:python31\lib\idlelib\idle.py which launched the program but gave me the following errors...
Warning: os.path.expanduser("~") points to %USERPROFILE%, but the path does not exist.
Warning: os.path.expanduser("~") points to %USERPROFILE%, but the path does not exist.
Warning: os.path.expanduser("~") points to %USERPROFILE%, but the path does not exist.
please note that idle for 3.1.1 works when launched from cmd prompt but not via the shortcuts or from the menu. i've made double sure that 'run as administrator' is checked in properties and compatability is set for xp sp 1. 
i have made absolutely no changes to my system aside from the typical windows updates rubbish.

Could you try with the latest version of Python (Python 3.4)?

sure, i'll give it a shot.. 
but while i'm doing that i managed to get further errors when trying to launch the shell and editor
 Warning: os.path.expanduser("~") points to
 %USERPROFILE%,
 but the path does not exist.
 Warning: os.path.expanduser("~") points to
 %USERPROFILE%,
 but the path does not exist.
Failed to import extension: AutoComplete
Failed to load extension 'AutoComplete'
Traceback (most recent call last):
 File "C:\Python31\lib\idlelib\EditorWindow.py", line 922, in load_standard_ext
ensions
 self.load_extension(name)
 File "C:\Python31\lib\idlelib\EditorWindow.py", line 932, in load_extension
 mod = __import__(name, globals(), locals(), [])
 File "C:\Python31\Lib\idlelib\AutoComplete.py", line 21, in <module>
 from idlelib import AutoCompleteWindow
 File "C:\Python31\lib\idlelib\AutoCompleteWindow.py", line 6, in <module>
 from idlelib.AutoComplete import COMPLETE_FILES, COMPLETE_ATTRIBUTES
 File "C:\Python31\lib\idlelib\AutoComplete.py", line 21, in <module>
 from idlelib import AutoCompleteWindow
ImportError: cannot import name AutoCompleteWindow
Exception in Tkinter callback
Traceback (most recent call last):
 File "C:\Python31\lib\tkinter\__init__.py", line 1399, in __call__
 return self.func(*args)
 File "C:\Python31\Lib\idlelib\ScriptBinding.py", line 130, in run_module_event
 code = self.checksyntax(filename)
 File "C:\Python31\Lib\idlelib\ScriptBinding.py", line 88, in checksyntax
 self.shell = shell = self.flist.open_shell()
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'open_shell'

2.5.4 works normally
as does 3.4.3 as well. 
problem still exists with 3.1.1

Python 3.1 is so old at this point that you're pretty much on your own. If you for some reason have to use 3.1, you can go fishing on python-list for assistance in getting it working.