application error

Recently I keep getting the following popup error;

"Application Error - userInit.exe" - "The instruction at "0x7c901010 "
reference memory at "0x052f273C ". The memory could not be "read ".
Click on OK to terminate the program."

The application referred to changes from popup to popup. So far I've seen msiexec.exe, wscript.exe, iexplorer, userinit.exe, jucheck.exe, msfeedssync.exe, track32.exe, firefox.exe, helpctr.exe.

The first address ( "0x7c901010 ") appear to be fixed but the second address changes from popup to popup.

Its hard to find a definite pattern, track32.exe always gives an error on closing the application but firefox and iexplorer only occationally give an error. Helpctr appears to only give an error (on closing) after clicking certain options within the application. All these application use the network at some stage, I believe that is the common denominator [but I cannot really speak for the following apps; wcript, userinit, jucheck, msfeedssync, msiexec].

Using WinXP with SP2.

Using update anti-virus / windows defender and no problems are reported.

Ran Windows Memory Diagnostic the other day, using extended test and it
found no memory issues (ran for 12 hours).

Computer has 2GB RAM and several GB of free disk space.

Why am I getting the popup and how do I remove it ?

 

Hi, laasunde. Welcome to Windows BBS!

You did a GREAT job providing details about your issue and troubleshooting steps you have performed. Thanks!

• I think wscript.exe is Windows Scripting Host.
• I think jucheck.exe is Java's update checking component so that also accesses the Internet.
• msfeedssync.exe appears to be a component of Internet Explorer 7.
• msiexec.exe is Windows Installer.

It is possible these file names might also be used by malware.


Can you recall any hardware or software changes you may have made immediately prior to the time the popups started appearing? If so, then I think you should investigate those as possible causes.


Perhaps you can use System Restore to revert your computer to a date/time immediately prior to the time your error popups started appearing.

• Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

I spent the last 45 minutes or so reading Google search results for 0x7c901010 (the memory address that consistently shows in your error popups).

I did not find a clear answer but 3 things seem to be suggested.


1. Check for malware. (You might have malware that Windows Defender does not detect.)

Please use the Kaspersky Webscanner as instructed in this link.

If the Kaspersky'd webscanner does not detect malware, then proceed to suggestion 2 below.

If Kaspersky's Webscanner detects malware, then start a new thread in the Removing Spyware & Viruses forum and paste your Kaspersky scan log and a fresh HijackThis log in that thread.

CAUTION: DO NOT have HijackThis "fix" anything without carefully following expert guidance. Otherwise, you might render your computer unstable or even unbootable.


2. Test your memory for errors. (Windows Memory Diagnostic probably does not detect all memory faults.)

• Microsoft KB134503:
  

A More Reliable RAM Testing Method:

1. Remove some of the memory modules from the computer (while the computer is off, of course).
   • For example, if two RAM modules are installed in your computer, remove one of the RAM modules.
2. Start your computer and see if the problem goes away.
3. If you continue to have unexpected reboots, then replace that RAM module with another module, or install the module in a different memory slot.
4. Start your computer and see if the problem goes away.

Continue this process to see if you can pinpoint the cause of your problem to a specific RAM module or slot.

If you do not find faulty RAM module(s) or slot(s), then proceed with suggestion 3 below.


3. Uninstall all instances of Java, restart your computer, install the latest version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE), and then restart your computer again.

 

Thanks for your reply and apologize for my slow response.

Added 1GB Ram about 3 months ago to the computer but that long before these problems showed up. Quite frequently add new software to the computer, cannot [now] see any pattern between installing a piece of software and these popups appearing. Have since last posting gone through add\remove and removed a number of rarely used program but it didnt remedy the problem.

Will try to get an hardware person to switch the RAM chips on the computer to see if that helps. Will also run the Kaspersky check tonight.

Any other ideas?

 

Any progress?

 

It appears the problem was my Winsock stack. No popups showing up now.

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=72830

 

I'm glad you got your problem solved.

Thanks for your follow-up with the link to your solution. Perhaps someone else with a similar issue will discover this thread and benefit.