svchost.exe application error "memory 0x00000000 could not be read"

Anyone know how to fix this error? It appears randomly: it came up 5 or 6 times about a week ago. It says something like address "0xabcdef000s" at memory 0x00000000 could not be read. Click ok to end program, click cancel to debug. Once this error pops up, almost nothing works, not even shutdown, ctrl+alt+del, etc. I have to press and hold the power button for 4 seconds to shut down the computer. Strangely, when I reboot, I don't get that apology about windows not having been shut down properly, do I want safe mode, normal boot, etc.
For about a week, all was well. It seems to have "cured" itself. Today, it popped up again, twice.
I am writing this on the affected computer, and, so far, it hasn't popped up--yet. About the only thing I notice that is different: I have HALF LIFE 2 installed, and, when I start the game, it first connects to STEAM to validate the account, and a steam icon appears in the lower right corner of the taskbar. It is gone now(the icon)-since the last reboot, and perhaps that is why, so far, the svchost.exe app. error hasn't popped up? I'm going to start Half Life 2 again, and see if I then start getting the svchost.exe popup. I'll report here if I do.
I did google this error, and it seems to be a fairly common one. There is a site that'll fix the problem if you first subscribe for a fee.
Microsoft addresses the problem, but under Windows 2000. This machine is an XP pro SP2 with all sorts of malware , spyware, anti-virus programs installed, all of which are faithfully, almost fanatically updated. Thanks.

 

Hi,

Run the memory diagnostics in my signature.

Run file system error checking on your drive/s (see Help and Support) with Automatically... and, Test for bad sectors... checked.

Matt

 

Hi Mattman. Thanks for the reply. I ran the mem diagnostic with no errors found. Also ran the file system error check through my computer>C drive properties>tools. I ran it with and without automatically fixing errors and checking for bad sectors. Both test went ok with no problems found. I only made one pass in the memory diagnostic.
I did, coincidentally, just GHOST my system onto a new WD Caviar 160gig HD about a week or two ago. There are no other problems with my computer. And, since posting the problem yesterday, I did restart Half Life 2, played it for a while, left the STEAM icon on the taskbar, and the SVCHOST.EXE problem has not reocurred. Thanks again for your interest. If it pops up again, I'll repost. In the meantime, if you have any other hints, please post them.

 

If there is no apparent problem with the memory itself (physical or virtual) and it only happens when STEAM has been running, look at uninstalling and reinstalling that program (or HL2, if necessary). The ghost may have made an error writing one of those programs.

Matt

 

Thanks Mattman. I've started and played the game several times over the past few days. All seems well. I do plan to uninstall HL2 and then reinstall. I am in touch with Steam tech support in an effort to smooth the way. When I reinstall, the game requires registration, and they will id the product or cd key, and tell me that this game is already activated and installation cannot be completed. In the meantime, that svchost.exe error hasn't shown up even once.