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What do Generic Host Services do?

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by r.leale, 2004/09/13.

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  1. 2004/09/13
    r.leale Lifetime Subscription

    r.leale Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Installed SP2 from a Microft supplied CD, no problem. The only program affected was Benign and Microsoft are working on a hotfix for that. There is supposed to be one available for download, but tracking it down has me beaten. Since the update, Zone Alarm shows continuous traffic caused by Generic Host Processes for WIN32 Services. The only way that I can stop it is to disconnect from the net.
    As my Windows XP is now absolutely up to date, can anyone explain to me what these downloads can be?
    The only other difference that I have found after installing SP2 is that it takes much longer to enter Hibernation. Odd innit!
    Roger :confused:
     
    r.leale,
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  2. 2004/09/13
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    SP2 turns on "Automatic Updates" and that utilizes the Generic Hosts process. Turn Automatic Updates off and it will quit bugging you.

    Right click My Computer > Properties > Automatic Updates tab > tic the box to turn it off.

    That will also cause a delay of Hibernation due to disk activity.
     
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  4. 2004/09/13
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I had automatic updates set to "notify but do nothing until I say so" on SP1 and now on SP2 as well. For other reasons, I had blocked "Generic Host Processes for WIN32 Services" in the Firewall. On SP1, it didn't affect Windows Update but on SP2 WU doesn't run if that service is denied web access. So, surferdude2 is correct in that there is a connection between WU and that service.

    However, on my system with that service and WU running and on other computers on which I have installed SP2, there is no continous traffic and I doubt that WU is the problem. The process for WU, which can be seen in TaskManager, wuauclt.exe, runs for some five miutes after starting the computer and then disappears. Not even during those five minutes do I have continous traffic. On computers running 24/7, I assume that wuauclt.exe appears on some schedule.

    I believe that we have to look elsewhere ...... :confused: ...... !

    Christer
     
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  5. 2004/09/13
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I forgot:

    There are different instances of "Generic Host Processes for WIN32 Services ". The firewall in Norton Internet Security, has a set of rules to automatically permit some trusted services and trusted programs access. "Generic Host Processes for WIN32 Services" is one of them.

    However, even though it was automatically configured, I was suddenly asked to give permission for "Generic Host Processes for WIN32 Services ". It confused me since there was not an additional entry in the program control in the firewall. The information in the firewall said "TCP/IP inbound" and I drew the conclusion that the auto configuration was for "outbound ". Even though Norton recommended to permit, I denied access but at the same time, I denied access for outbound too. I had to set it back to automatic for WU to work on SP2.

    On the up-side is that the firewall hasn't nagged me about "TCP/IP inbound" since I installed SP2.

    ...... :eek: ...... :confused: ......


    Christer
     
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  6. 2004/09/14
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Roger,
    I'm not familiar with Zone Alarm anymore. I have used it but I've also got a teflon coated memory.

    IIRC You can either permit, block or get asked for permission to connect to the web. Have You tried to set "Generic Host Processes for WIN32 Services" to ask permission each time? That would give You the opportunity to see what is happening. Outbound or inbound? To where, from where?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  7. 2004/09/14
    r.leale Lifetime Subscription

    r.leale Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Christer,
    Thanks for thinking about it. I have to have at least one example of these processes working or nothing can get out.
    I had Windows Update set to inform me but not to download or install. I have now turned it off completely. With no browser open, and no programs running that may want to call home, there is still this traffic. Mostly inbound with the occasional short burst of outbound, just as happens during a download. Still very slow to hibernate, and that's a pity because it used to be much faster to hibernate/wake-up than it is to shut down/reboot. Not much difference now!
    I'll keep checking.

    Roger
     
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  8. 2004/09/14
    r.leale Lifetime Subscription

    r.leale Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hooray! ! !
    Reselected Autoupdate to download and install - shut-down.
    Rebooted and reset Autoupdate to no download status and shutdown.
    Rebooted - no more unexplained traffic.
    It must have been a lapsus by XP, or a PEBCAK !
    Roger
     
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  9. 2004/09/14
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Roger,
    congratulations, strange things happen!

    I have Ghost Images of three different installations of SP2. I restore any of them when I want to find something out.

    The first thing I did was to clean the (at the time) current installation and put SP2 on top of it. There is no nagging "red crest with the white X" about not being able to detect the status of Norton and that Automatic Updates have been disabled.

    The second is rolled back to a fully updated XPRTM+SP1a and SP2 on top of it and then NIS including NAV.
    The third is rolled back to XPRTM (no updates) and SP2 on top of it and then NIS including NAV.
    The latter two get the nagging "red crest with the white X" about not being able to detect the status of Norton and that Automatic Updates have been disabled.

    Go figure ...... :confused: ...... !

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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