Svchost.exe & Generic Host Process Errors - Old Malware Blood Hard To Clean!!!

blue4 · Dec 29, 2010

About a month ago my computer (Windows XP Professional SP3) was attacked by some malware/virus/trojan (Security Suite 2011 or something like that) that locked all functions/programs and told me that any program I tried to open was infected with a virus. I thought I finally got rid of it by running MBAM (in safe mode). It found some trojans, etc., removed them and I thought that was that. Not exactly.

Since then, I've been getting the "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close" error with increased frequency. Now, the following happens w/in 15-20 minutes of a fresh reboot and connecting to the internet. I first get the error, then my system tray basically "blinks"; I then lose internet connection capability, then my system volume goes out, and finally the entire desktop and all programs lock up and I have to reboot. Sometimes I also get a svchost.exe error window that some memory cant be read. That svchost.exe error also posts in the error log of the Generic Host Process error. Additionally, I have no ability to download Windows updates (even when computer is not in Generic Host Process error mode and whether through IE or Firefox) and programs like Adobe are acting all crazy.

The above seems to happen only when I'm connected to the internet. When I reboot from scratch and don't connect to the internet, the computer is pretty stable - like the good old days.

Again, I had none of these problems before I got nailed a month ago with that pesky malware.

I constantly scan with AVG, MBAM, Spybot, Superantispyware and Webroot and everything comes back clean every time. My only guess is that the malware wasnt completely cleaned or that in the cleaning process my registry got all screwed up. PLEASE HELP!

Thanks in advance for your time.

Kestrel13! · Dec 30, 2010

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

Pleases follow the instructions in the below link:

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

**** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****

Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!

Helpful Notes:

If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:

Starting your computer in Safe mode

If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.

If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.

To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:

Don't Bump! It Only Hurts You!!!

Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.

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Svchost.exe & Generic Host Process Errors - Old Malware Blood Hard To Clean!!!

blue4 Private E-2

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member