Linux Format forums

Re: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

wyliecoyoteuk — Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:48 pm

Author: wyliecoyoteuk

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:48 pm

When all is said and done.. the problem is probably malware.
I use, and troubleshoot windows every day, and it certainly sounds like malware.
I don't have a problem with a windows post here per se, but I think it is fair to advise the questioner to look elsewhere for a speedy resolution.

Re: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

Rhakios — Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:58 pm

Author: Rhakios

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:58 pm

towy71 wrote:

If I were looking for advice about microsoft's os's this is probably the last place I'd look

Not necessarily, most of us are refugees from the world of MS and are only too familiar with having had to deal with its problems.

Re: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

towy71 — Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:41 pm

Author: towy71

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:41 pm

If I were looking for advice about microsoft's os's this is probably the last place I'd look
Malware, spyware and all that guff might just be generated to make the user spend their hard earned cash on buckets of spit that are supposedly gaurdian software.
Microsoft must be aware that the answer to it all is in their hands, but they choose the business model that impoverishes their user base; they continue to do so at their peril!

Re: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

Executor — Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:06 pm

Author: Executor

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:06 pm

@pootman
All your points are valid and fair. It is mainly generic security advice.

However even if nitromaster had posted this on a Windows specific forum people would have jumped on the malware bandwagon. We need to rule out malware and then we can ask other questions to narrow down the problem. Only generic answers can be given at this stage with so little to go on.

I've had this problem before and twice it really was malware even thought I had a paid for subscription anti-virus program. It was by installing free security programs with different virus pattern databases did I discover the problem, hence why I mentioned only free programs.

Without ruling out malware very few people are going to be willing to help nitromaster.

Re: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

pootman — Sat Nov 24, 2007 6:19 pm

Author: pootman

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 6:19 pm

Don't take this personally Executor, it's not. However:

Executor wrote:

Although this problem could be caused by a number of things I have to agree that it is probably malware. Formatting Windows would guarantee a clean system and would certainly fix the problem, but if you don't want to format you could try the suggestions below.

Installing some free anti-virus programs such as:
- ClamWin
- AVG Anti-Virus (Free Edition)
- Avira AntiVir (Free Edition)
(Installing all of them is the best option).

Use the free online web-based anti-virus scanning tools from some of the big names in Windows anti-virus, such as:
- Trend Micro HouseCall free Web-based tool
- McAfee FreeScan
(Scan your system with both).

Install some free anti-sypware programs such as:
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- Ad-aware from Lavasoft (Free Edition)
(Installing both of them is the best option).

Make sure you have all the Windows updates.

This is generic (albeit slightly paranoid) security advice, which any windows user should be aware of. All well and good.

Quote:

Go to:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx
Click on “Process Utilities” under “Featured Resources”. Consider installing:
- Autoruns
- Process Explorer (I like this program)
- Process Monitor
(Using these tools make sure no unknown programs are running)

Install Ethereal, boot up your computer, put Ethereal in full logging mode and leave your computer alone. When the error occurs have a look at the last bit of network traffic just before the error occurred. You might see that a program was trying to “Phone Home”.

If you knew how to interpret the results of any of the above, you wouldn't have written the first post in this thread without mentioning it.

Quote:

If you don't find any malware on your system after doing all of the above then assume it is not a malware issue. Search Google for “Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem” but ignore all results which suggest it is a malware problem. You will then see some of the other problems which can cause this message and hopefully you will be able to fix it.

And what you've basically said there, is try googling for some proper windows forums where this problem has already been discussed.

I think asking for technical help on Windows on a Linux board, even in the other OS section, is like looking for a sunny sandy beach in Antarctica. There are just so many more appropriate places too look.

Re: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

Executor — Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:26 pm

Author: Executor

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:26 pm

If Windows questions are considered off topic in “Other OS”, then what about 1sf? 1sf playful banter can sometimes swamp and overtake a thread (not that this is necessarily a bad thing). By this rationale surely there should be a 1sf sub form. Especially when, at time of writing, there are probably more 1sf related posts than "LXF Bounty", "Newsletter Archives" and "LXF Blog Comments" combined (maybe even “This Website” combined).

Back to the topic.
Although this problem could be caused by a number of things I have to agree that it is probably malware. Formatting Windows would guarantee a clean system and would certainly fix the problem, but if you don't want to format you could try the suggestions below.

Installing some free anti-virus programs such as:
- ClamWin
- AVG Anti-Virus (Free Edition)
- Avira AntiVir (Free Edition)
(Installing all of them is the best option).

Use the free online web-based anti-virus scanning tools from some of the big names in Windows anti-virus, such as:
- Trend Micro HouseCall free Web-based tool
- McAfee FreeScan
(Scan your system with both).

Install some free anti-sypware programs such as:
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- Ad-aware from Lavasoft (Free Edition)
(Installing both of them is the best option).

Make sure you have all the Windows updates.

Go to:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx
Click on “Process Utilities” under “Featured Resources”. Consider installing:
- Autoruns
- Process Explorer (I like this program)
- Process Monitor
(Using these tools make sure no unknown programs are running)

Install Ethereal, boot up your computer, put Ethereal in full logging mode and leave your computer alone. When the error occurs have a look at the last bit of network traffic just before the error occurred. You might see that a program was trying to “Phone Home”.

If you don't find any malware on your system after doing all of the above then assume it is not a malware issue. Search Google for “Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem” but ignore all results which suggest it is a malware problem. You will then see some of the other problems which can cause this message and hopefully you will be able to fix it.

Good Luck!

Re: RE: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

M-Saunders — Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:08 am

Author: M-Saunders

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:08 am

Dutch_Master wrote:

This is a forum dedicated to Linux. Generic windows questions, not related to Linux, don't belong here

Actually, this is the "Other OS" subforum of the main LXF forums We added this for regulars to get quick answers from any other Win/Mac users, without having to sign up to a dedicated Win/Mac forum.

Also, I don't know if megaposters nelz, jjmac and co. run Windows, but if I had a Windows problem, I'd sure ask them first!

M

RE: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

wyliecoyoteuk — Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:25 pm

Author: wyliecoyoteuk

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:25 pm

@pins>fair enough, but wouldn't it be a much better idea to post it on a windows help forum?

After all, many of us here no longer use windows, some may have never used windows- eek!

Of course, there may be people who post Linux questions on microsoft forums-I wouldn't know- but either way it is probably a waste of time.
Try PC answers or Micromart forums, I'm sure there are friendly geeks there.

RE: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

pins — Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:59 am

Author: pins

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:59 am

@Dutch Master> forum title: "Linux Format Forum Index » Misc » Other OS"
I think that covers nitromaster for posting this here, no?

RE: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

wyliecoyoteuk — Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:09 pm

Author: wyliecoyoteuk

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:09 pm

Spyware, almost certainly.
See above.
In no way related to Linux.

RE: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

Rhakios — Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:08 pm

Author: Rhakios

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:08 pm

Solution here? But then I would hope you've got post SP-2 updates installed already.
OTOH svchost and netapi32 are favourite targets for malware.

RE: Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

Dutch_Master — Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:56 pm

Author: Dutch_Master

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:56 pm

The ultimate solution for any and all Windoze problems! (hint: click!)

This is a forum dedicated to Linux. Generic windows questions, not related to Linux, don't belong here and can be better asked on other forums aiming at Win-users
(hint: select this message with your mouse

Windows Xp Problem.... (Generic Host Process)

nitromaster — Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:47 pm

Author: nitromaster

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:47 pm

Windows is really annoying me more than usual now, after about 20 minutes of being connected to the internet is comes up with
Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience..
The internet connection then stops working, it still thinks its connected but wont do anything (not even allow me to disconnect and reconnect)
I then have to restart to be able to use the internet connection again.
It then changes theme from the current xp one to the classic one and back again.

I had this problem about a year ago,but it eventually went away.
I have since re-installed.

More Details:

Quote:

EventType : BEX P1 : svchost.exe P2 : 5.1.2600.2180 P3 : 41107ed6
P4 : netapi32.dll P5 : 5.1.2600.2180 P6 : 411096ac P7 : 0000a3c0
P8 : c0000409 P9 : 00000000

Anyone got an idea of whats wrong or how to fix it?