Services and Controller App Error

MG,
I am posting a thread in the software forum similar to one posted (by me) in the malware forum at the request of the supporter. Here is the score: I have already taken the steps to become malware free and by all accounts have made it. My problem must now be software/hardware related.

At least once per day, I get the famed Services and Controller App Error. I can almost set my watch to it. It happens 4 hours from the time that I power up in the morning. Then again in the afternoon which is slightly more random (or at least I see no pattern). All of this is followed by the 1 minute shut warning (NT Authority). I often interrupt the shut down with a DOS shutdown /a command so that I can finish my work. When I do finally get around to the formal shut down, the machine never completly goes down. I have to do a power down in order for the reboot.

The other curiosity that happens is that my AV software stops and I get a Windows Security Alert at the same time the Services error appears. Naturally, I would want to remedy this as soon as practical. Hence the need to do a reboot.

Is this condition viral? It has been doing this ever since I change the machine from a Domain controller to a Workgroup. Any connection here?

Please Please help if you can. I am quite capable with the PC environment and there is nothing that I wont try short of a complete format.

Thank you.

Chicken64

 

Domluc,
Thank you for your swift response. I am including two entries from the Event Viewer log(s). While the Systems log was rather uneventful, the Applications log had some good information. I was able to see a pattern of what is happening just before the incidence (subject topic) occurs. First the earliest warning closest to incidence. From the system log:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Userenv
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1085
Date: 3/18/2009
Time: 9:41:56 AM
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: ACCTLAPTOP
Description:
The Group Policy client-side extension Security failed to execute. Please look for any errors reported earlier by that extension.

From the application log (same timing).

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: avgntflt
Event Category: None
Event ID: 18
Date: 3/18/2009
Time: 9:43:59 AM
User: N/A
Computer: ACCTLAPTOP
Description:
TIMEOUT<OUTLOOK.EXE>
Data:
0000: 00 00 00 00 02 00 5a 00 ......Z.
0008: 00 00 00 00 12 00 07 80 .......€
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........

Then the grand daddy of the all from the application log. This event takes place each time before the incident occurs:


Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Error
Event Category: (100)
Event ID: 1000
Date: 3/18/2009
Time: 11:27:13 AM
User: N/A
Computer: ACCTLAPTOP
Description:
Faulting application services.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, faulting module esent.dll, version 5.1.2600.2780, fault address 0x0001baec.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 73 65 72 ure ser
0018: 76 69 63 65 73 2e 65 78 vices.ex
0020: 65 20 35 2e 31 2e 32 36 e 5.1.26
0028: 30 30 2e 32 31 38 30 20 00.2180
0030: 69 6e 20 65 73 65 6e 74 in esent
0038: 2e 64 6c 6c 20 35 2e 31 .dll 5.1
0040: 2e 32 36 30 30 2e 32 37 .2600.27
0048: 38 30 20 61 74 20 6f 66 80 at of
0050: 66 73 65 74 20 30 30 30 fset 000
0058: 31 62 61 65 63 1baec

As for your other suggestion, I do NOT have the OS load as you have inquired. I will look deeper into this to see what I can find. Thank you again for your wisdom into this matter.

~Chicken64

 

From researching the esent.dll error it appears that is the connection. Unfortunately, the solution was to install SP3.

Here's a thread but it is old so I'm not sure if most of it is still applicable because things change in windows.
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-212204.php

 

Plodr,

I have read the link that you had referenced and it leaves me wanting for more. I have initiated a "repair" using XP Pro (SP2) in hope that this might straighten things out and it did not. I am going to load SP3 next in hopes that this too might clear up this mess. I am still holding on to the hope that I do not have to do a complete format and a reload.

Any additional thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

Chicken64