Win 32 Services...needs to close. Help!

For the last 3 months I have been getting a very annoying (but apparently not life threatening) message every time I start up Windows, connect to the internet, disconnect, or close down my PC, as follows:

"Generic Host Process for Win32 Services
Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the incovenience.
If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on might be lost.
For more information about this error,click here"
There is also an option to close.

If I "click here" I get:

"Error Signature
szAppName:sychost.exe szAppVer:5.1.2600.2180 szModName:ssdpsrv.dll szModVer: 0.0.0.0 offset:0000dbf1
To view technical information about the error report, click here."
Again there is a close option.

Again if I "click here" I get:

"Error Report Contents
The following files will be included in this error report:
C:\DOCUME-1\LOCALS-1\Temp\WERbc36.dir00\sychost.exe.mdmp
C:\DOCUME-1\LOCALS-1\Temp\WERbc36.dir00\appcompat.txt"
There is only a close option.

As this is all fairly meaningless to me, so I tend to close the first message when it comes up. When logging on to Windows it comes up around 7 times. When connecting to the internet it comes up around 11 times. When closing the internet connection it comes up around 9 times. Sometimes it comes up a few more times just randomly. All I can do is just keep on hitting "close" until it disappears. It is more annoying than anything, and appears not to do any damage or prevent anything from running.

I am unsure as to whether it is a virus, or just corrupted/missing windows files. I run AVG free and keep it up to date. I have done complete scans recently, but found nothing. I also run Ad-Aware which I also keep up to date, which removes data miners etc but nothing which has stopped this problem.

I also did a full Norton Win Doctor scan recently which came up with two problems it could not fix which relate to a "missing" dll file (this may or may not be related - I am not sure):

Problem - Missing File: C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Professional\Run Time\09\01\Intel32\DotNetInstaller.exe" cannot access a necessary file, "mscoree.dll."

Problem - Missing File: C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Professional\Run Time\10\01\Intel32\DotNetInstaller.exe" cannot access a necessary file, "mscoree.dll."

My PC is a Time Computers AMD Athlon 2200+, 1.8Ghz, 512Meg RAM. I run Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 2 (upgraded approximately the same time that this problem appeared - not sure). I did try a System Restore but it did not work at the time. My father has virtually the same pc which the same operating system, and I recently searched his for the mscoree.dll file, which it did not recognise. Therefore why should it be necessary on my pc? Is it part of Windows? Should I install this file (I notice it can be got from various sources on the internet)? Would this make a difference?

Various people have suggested I reinstall Windows. Unfortunately, the pc did not come with a windows disk, just a drivers disk. I am prepared to buy a new copy of Windows XP Home again if need be, though I would rather not for obvious financial reasons.

Sorry about the length and detail of this (essay!), though I hope it helps.

My question is, how do I get rid of this annoying message?

 

Do you have any "suspicous" errors in your Event Log about services failing to run ?

 

Thanks for asking. Being a "non teckie" this is an area I don't visit normally, but having just checked the Event Viewer, it is full of "Errors." There appear to be 3 areas:

System - This is showing a very large number of errors each day and the source is listed as a "Service Control Manager". If I double click on each one, there is a description. The details are the same on all of them: "The SSDP Discovery Service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 12 times."

Application - Again lots of application errors. Description - "Faulty application sychost.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, faulty module ssdpsrv.dll, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x0000dbft." There are also some "Warnings" with a longer description which I can show you if required.

Security - Mainly "Success Audit", but some "Failure Audit".

This all sounds a bit scary. I guess there should not be any errors?

Regards

Pelvoux23

 

There are almost always errors in the event log. (we are talking Micro$$oft)

However, you seem to have a lot of missing or corrupt files.

And if you don't have a Windows CD, it makes things much harder.

You say you don't mind buying one, so I think that's the best thing.

Then I would either try a repair, System File Checker, or a format and reinstall.

If you do format, make sure you have updated motherboard drivers. Don't rely on generic XP ones.

 

Thanks - I'll go and buy a new Windows CD then and see how I get on. I presume when you put the disk in, you get the various options - eg repair, system file checker, etc? Also, in case I have to format and reinstall, I do have a disk containing drivers which came with the PC. Should I update these first or just load up the old ones and update afterwards? I presume I would have to save any updated ones on disk ready for after the reinstall?

 

Yes, try to have the latest drivers for all your hardware available on disk.

The ones supplied originally with the hardware can be very old, and may have bugs that are resolved with the latest version.


As far as System File Checker, it's Start, Run and type in sfc /scannow then OK. (note the space after sfc )

As far as a Repair, yes the Windows CD autoplay menu has that option (it's basically installing Windows over itself), or you can do it via the Recovery Console. (Bios set to boot from CD, then follow the prompts)