Generic Host Process Win32 error message

Discussion in 'Software' started by Grumbles, Jun 9, 2008.

  1. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    For the last few days upon starting my PC - WinXP SP3 Desktop - an error message has appeared giving me the option to send/not send error message to MS.
    It says:
    Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close.
    I looked at the details of the message : szAppname: 0.0.0.0 szAppVer: 0.0.0.0
    szModname: unknown szModVer: 0.0.0.0 offset: 7c91b1fa

    Does anyone know what to do to rectify this error?

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 9, 2008
    #1
  2. plodr

    plodr Major Geek Super Extraordinaire

    Not really because if you note everything says 0. That means the computer doesn't have a clue as to the apps name, Version etc.
     
    plodr, Jun 9, 2008
    #2
  3. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    Try booting into safe mode and see if you get that error or not?

    Have you installed anything new before this started to happen? also double check that you have not doubled up on any live resident scanning security application.


    In this instance if safe mode is ok with no errors, then enter msconfig and the startup tab and disable all startups then reboot, if ok start with all in sequence with a reboot to try and narrow the culprit down.

    Turn off automatic updating if its on and reboot, any change? if so goto windows update online and update, then turn back on automatic updates and reboot.

    Possible is to suspect malware too, so do some scans.
     
    DavidGP, Jun 9, 2008
    #3
  4. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Thanks for the suggestions :) I will go try them out and report back asap.

    I installed Avast and Napster in the last few days. Also did Microsoft Updates.

    The biggest event I did was the Virus Recovery DataBase generator in Avast which
    is an Integrity Database and copies files to protect against viruses.Maybe this has
    caused a problem?

    G :)
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2008
    Grumbles, Jun 9, 2008
    #4
  5. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Safe mode - no error message :)
    Reverted to McAfee Security as it is free with my broadband provider; uninstalled Avast,Zonealarm and BOClean.

    Do i just type in msconfig in the Run box?

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 11, 2008
    #5
  6. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Can you talk me through what to do after disabling startups? A message appears on reboot saying I should click Normal mode and reboot. I take it that the PC will start again after disabling startup services?
    Now the task bar has changed colour :( New PC needed LOL
     
    Grumbles, Jun 11, 2008
    #6
  7. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    Once disabled ( yes click Start > Run and type msconfig ) all of them reboot and if PC is ok without error then enable one at a time by going back into msconfig until the error appears and that is your culprit.

    Its very possible that there may have been left over files from McAfee causing issues with Avast and more so if the version of ZoneAlarm was the one with Antivirus built in, Avast and ZA have had issues running together in past.

    How did you enter safe mode if via msconfigs option then click normal and reboot.
     
    DavidGP, Jun 11, 2008
    #7
  8. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Sorry if i have confused the issue here; I booted into Safe Mode and there was no error message. Then restarted into Normal mode, typed in msconfig, disabled all services at once, rebooted. Message appears regarding the services being disabled = please check all normal services and reboot, which i did.
    I was kind of scared that the PC wouldn't start again.! ;)
    So I type msconfig again, disable all services, reboot and then how do I proceed with on screen prompts.

    Every reboot is knocking out my sound and desktop theme :( already posted sound question in drivers forum.

    Thanks
    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 11, 2008
    #8
  9. plodr

    plodr Major Geek Super Extraordinaire

    No, you never disable everything. That's why things are acting up.
     
    plodr, Jun 11, 2008
    #9
  10. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Sorry again, I went to RUN - msconfig - startup - disable all services - reboot

    So do I enable one at a time now and keep rebooting until the error message appears?
    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 12, 2008
    #10
  11. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Ok, off I go (hi-ho!) to disable the services one at a time. Thanks everyone for your time and help :)
     
    Grumbles, Jun 12, 2008
    #11
  12. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    I really must stop taking sugar in my coffee!! Not Services at all, should read start up items.
    I am a bit :foolish
     
    Grumbles, Jun 13, 2008
    #12
  13. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    OK I have completed the MSCONFIG and start up tests and there are 3 start up items causing the error message to appear:

    ISUSPM @ C:pROGRA~1\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\ISUSPM.exe -startup
    Location: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\Run

    qttask @ "C:\Program Files\Quicktime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
    Location :HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\Run

    mcagent @ C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe\runkey
    Location: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\Run

    My current Anti Virus Security is McAfee, but the problem with the error message appeared before I installed this one.
    What would you suggest now?

    Thanks

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 14, 2008
    #13
  14. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Yes Startups only..... good that it doesnt happen in Safe Mode as that more or less ties it to being something that is starting with your bootup, so yes sadly the longish job of enabling one at a time and rebooting to find the culprit is needed.

    Edit as posting before seen yours above:

    Ah ok, so now with those three, however via CCleaners Startups list I would delete qtask and ISUSPM as its not needed ( just updaters and not worth having clogging up startup), so what leaves you with just macafees startup, so again in msconfig, disable all and only have Macafee set to start and reboot, so you get message?

    Not also installed any new drivers have you at the time of this?
     
    DavidGP, Jun 14, 2008
    #14
  15. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Back to msconfig again ;)
     
    Grumbles, Jun 14, 2008
    #15
  16. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Hi Halo

    Checked mcagent and disabled all startups, rebooted and no error message :)

    Deleted ISUSPM from Startups in CCleaner, but no sign of qttask listed.
    Rebooted, but both these items are still located in MSConfig Startup list.

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 14, 2008
    #16
  17. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi G


    Click start > run and type regedit to load regedit.

    Navigate to these keys and if any of the two are listed right click and delete then if listed as the below two keys are where unticked items from msconfig are held


    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupfolder

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg

    or if not 100% with deleting items from those locations post me a screenshot and will advise or just found this from KellyT's site Line 148 Clear Disabled Items from Msconfig Startup & Selective get that vb script to do this automatically.
     
    DavidGP, Jun 14, 2008
    #17
  18. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Hi H
    Just deleted the two listed in regedit. Then rebooted and so far so good.
    At restart, the system configuration box still appears - should this now be set back to normal?

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 14, 2008
    #18
  19. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi G

    Yes now reset all startup items to start in msconfig.
     
    DavidGP, Jun 14, 2008
    #19
  20. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Grumbles, Jun 14, 2008
    #20
  21. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi G

    Mmm thought we had it earlier for a moment, ok disable all but McAfee as out of your list thats all thats really needed from that lot on startup, as I would hazard a guess like me you dont schedule Acronis backups but do them manually when needed or remembered.
     
    DavidGP, Jun 14, 2008
    #21
  22. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Do you want me to use CC/Startup to remove them? Acronis is done manually :)

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 14, 2008
    #22
  23. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi G

    Nope start with msconfig first, then if ok for say a few reboots and a bit of surfing for say 30mins then re-enable them all in msconfig then delete with CCleaner, although ctfmon which is part of Office should not be an issue, and may return on reboot after deleting ( can fully remove this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282599 as its for alternative inputs which many dont use ).
     
    DavidGP, Jun 14, 2008
    #23
  24. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    So all i am left with in startups in msconfig is mcafee? Just checking :)

    Thanks K for relaying the message :)

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 16, 2008
    #24
  25. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    Hi Halo
    Things not looking good; the error message appears for each item now. I was checking them all again, disabling and restarting as AdobeUpdater has appeared in the startup and I cannot remove it (not in CC Startup).
    Is it R&R time?

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 16, 2008
    #25
  26. Grumbles

    Grumbles Bamboozled Geek

    I have done a system restore to a month ago and the message has disappeared - except that it seeks permission to access the Internet each time I load up. (zonealarm) Maybe I had it blocked in my firewall settings and this caused the problems, i don't know. But possibly worth checking out.

    G
     
    Grumbles, Jun 18, 2008
    #26

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds