Generic Host Process Win32

I have recently (by recently i mean within the past week) been receiving an error message when i boot windows xp stating "generic host process Win32 has encountered an error and must close ". I have sent and chosen not to send the message, but after the error pops up my computer task bar, tool bar, and all windows seem to revert to an older form of windows or something similar. Also, there is no audio/video playback availabe online or in my itunes. The error is making my computer slow, and impossible to use, and its driving me insane!!! can anyone please help me get rid of this for good?

Thanks so much!

 

Hi, BryonM. Welcome to Windows BBS!

Sometimes the rather generic (pardon the pun) "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close." error indicates the existence of a virus or other malware (I think) so we should try to rule that possibility out.

Please use the two online scanners described in this link (following the instructions noahdfear provided).

If malware is detected, then start a new thread in the Removing Spyware & Viruses forum and include the Kaspersky and/or Panda report(s) noahdfear noted in his instructions along with the details you provided in your first post of this thread.

Then carefully follow the instructions in this link and paste the main.txt log from Deckard's System Scanner in a "Reply" post in your Removing Spyware & Viruses thread. (If you follow the instructions carefully, then the Deckard's System Scanner main.txt log should automatically include the HijackThis log.)

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If malware is not detected, then perhaps Event Viewer will shed more light on your issue.

Instructions About How to Access and Use "Event Viewer ":

1. Click Start.
2. Right-click My Computer.
3. Select "Manage" to open the "Computer Management" window.
   (Event Viewer will be displayed under the "System Tools" directory item.)
4. Expand "Event Viewer" and then select "Application ", "Security ", and "System" to view the logs.
5. Look for "error" events that occurred around the time your problem occurred. These events will be displayed as icons with either a white X on red background or a black exclamation point on yellow background. In the security section of Event Viewer, events of possible concern are ones that display a padlock icon instead of a key icon.
6. Double-click on an individual event to open the "Event Properties" window which shows details about the event.
   • You can use the up/down arrow buttons in the "Event Properties" window to move your focus to other events in the list.
   • Use the button below the up/down arrows to copy the details for an event to your clipboard for pasting elsewhere (such as a follow-up forum message in this thread ).
   • Click on the "http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp" link in the "Event Properties" window to view more information from Microsoft about the event.

Alternatively, Event Viewer may be accessed as follows.

1. Click Start > Run...
2. Type [FONT= "Courier New"][SIZE= "3"]eventvwr.msc[/SIZE][/FONT] in the "Open:" field.
3. Click the OK button.

 

Note to all:

BryonM started a thread in the Removing Spyware & Viruses forum.