DEP error - generic host process for win32service

A few days ago, while searching for something on the net, I click on what I thought was a link to addition text, but it started a download. Before I had a chance to do anything else, I message box popped up informing me that something was attempting to make changes to my windows files and asked if it should continue. I hit cancel and finished what I was doing. My Avira anti-virus popped up a couple of times with a virus alert soon after that. I closed everything down, updated Malwarebyte's AntiMalware, and ran a scan. It found a malware and a trojan which it then cleaned. After the reboot, Windows XP would not boot up (not even into safe mode). I did a chkdsk /r which found and repaired some errors which came back, tried last known good configuration, and system restore directories, but still could not boot up.

Finally, I booted from the windows CD and did a repair install. Since my Windows CD is Windows XP Pro with SP1, I started doing all the updates. After SP2 was installed, I started noticing some updates had failed. Also, after reboots (needed for the updates), I started getting DEP error messages stating that it had to close "generic host process for win32 services".

I am current on all updates according to the windows update website, and DEP, Data Execution Protection, is a legit windows feature. Also, I was current on windows updates with SP3 and current with my antivirus when this all started.

My question is how to fix this DEP error? And how can I tell if my computer is back to where it should be (the failed updates have me concerned)?

 

Hi SeanKG66,

You may want to try this hotfix http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894391 to see if it clears the DEP problem.

Then try to manually install SP3 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

Techsent

 

Thank you for the quick response.

I tried the hotfix, but when I went to install it, it informed me that it was not needed as the SP version that was already installed was newer.

Also, I updated and ran MalwareByte's Anti-Malware and Avira anit-virus and found 1 virus. I cleaned the virus and repeated then updates and scans plus Windows MRT. All scans were clean before I tried to install the Hotfix.

I am still getting the DEP Error. What else can I try?