Startup error message: Generic Host Process for Win32 Services

Question

Every time I restart my computer, once it gets to the desktop, I get a very annoying error message:   To help protect your computer, Windows has closed this program. Name: Generic Host Process for Win32 Services. Publisher: Microsoft Corporation.   When I click the Close Message button, it gives me another error message:   Generic Host Process for Win32 Services encountered a problem and needed to close. This error occurred on 2/28/2006 at 6:31:27 PM.   It gives me the option to send an error report to Microsoft, or not to send one. Regardless of whether I report it or not, I usually have to click through this series of error messages five or six times. They all report that the error occurred at different times, often very close together, a few seconds or a few minutes apart. And they report error times that occurred before I restarted my computer.   I have tried everything I can think of to get rid of this problem, and I have scoured Microsoft's and Dell's site, as well as otehr places on the net looking for anyone with a similar problem or a fix I can download. But whatever I've found thus far has been unhelpful. I've tried System Restore and numerous virus and spyware scans. Nothing helps.

Sammykins · Answer

I have gotten that same thing before, and it was quite annoying.
I fixed the problem with downloading something from Microsoft's Site:

" A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. For Windows XP SP2, the Generic Host Process error can potentially occur on any system at any time. Although you receive the error message shortly after system startup, the actual error occurred during the previous system shutdown. Because of the broad nature of this issue, this hotfix was made available through Windows Update and distributed to users who have Automatic Updates enabled to eliminate this problem on Windows XP SP2 systems. For Windows XP SP2, you may experience one last Generic Host Process error upon restart after you install this hotfix. This is from the previous system shutdown before the new version installation was completed."

You can check out the different files here to find out what system you have and how to fix it. Hopefully that helps.

fuzzypeach · Answer

I tried that hotfix before, without success. I just tried it again, and it still didn't fix the problem. I wonder if it's a virus/worm/spyware....

sparkenh · Answer

It appears that the other solution that worked are:
1. Updating the driver for HP printer if one has.
2. XP repair install.

The presence of worm virus is a popular suspect but nobody seems to be able to prove that it was the cause.

Message Edited by sparkenh on 03-02-2006 12:32 PM

Windows General

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