"Generic Host Process Win 32.exe Has Encountered A Problem"

[damocci]

Hi guys,

I've had it with my computer. I did a clean Windows XP reinstall a couple of weeks ago, hoping my PC woes would end, and again I'm having problems. My PC takes about 7 or 8 minutes for it to get ready for use once I've put my password in. (Here I thought reinstalling Windows would sort that out).

What happens now is about an hour or so after I've started using the PC, I'll get an error: "Generic Host Process Win 32.exe Has Encountered A Problem." Once I click on OK I am unable to connect to the internet, and for some reason Windows cannot identify my sound card unless I restart the PC.

Google tells me this is a trojan, and I don't know how to get rid of it. AVG, Spyware Detector, Norton Internet Security and Computer Associates Internet Security can't find the trojan, and I'm so fed up I really don't want to buy any more wonder products to fix the problem (gee, no wonder there's so much piracy out there, with all the crappy programs that claim to be so superior but don't actually do what they're supposed to).

Do you guys have any tips on what I can do to remove this problem with a free program, or what I should manually do on my PC to sort it out. Again, please don't make me buy yet another "excellent" program. Thanks, guys.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

What do you use your computer for?

Based on that I can give you a recommendation, but I need to know what you use it for.

 

[mh348]

Try updating to the latest service pack, I think there is a hotfix that corrects the Gen Host Error. I had the same error on my old PC some time back. I installed the hotfix and it came right. I can't remember which hotfix it was, so it will be better to install the latest sp.

 

[Franna]

Slipstream the Windows XP install CD with SP3, and then reinstall Windows. Download the latest version of AVG Free 8.x and Super Anti-Spyware 4.x and install it first.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

 

[damocci]

What do you use your computer for?

Based on that I can give you a recommendation, but I need to know what you use it for.

I use it most for leisure, like surfing the net, watching movies. I'm also using it to write a novel, and I do some music production as a hobby on it.

 

[damocci]

Slipstream the Windows XP install CD with SP3, and then reinstall Windows. Download the latest version of AVG Free 8.x and Super Anti-Spyware 4.x and install it first.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

Do I really have to reinstall Windows again? I need to know because a clean install usually takes me about six hours or so because of all the important programs I have to install (non of them are responsible for the slow start-up).

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I use it most for leisure, like surfing the net, watching movies. I'm also using it to write a novel, and I do some music production as a hobby on it.

Can I recommend that you download and try out Ubuntu?

There's no need to install it yet - you can run it live from the CD, and it will give you a chance to try it out before you install it.

Or you can, if you have a spare HDD, install it to the extra HDD and play around with it.

By default it will allow you to do most of the activities you defined above, although you might need to do a bit of research on music production.

The reason why I suggest it is that windows viruses and trojans are unable to affect/infect Ubuntu.

If you've done your work (novel) in Office, OpenOffice will be able to read Office 2003 files, so your hard work won't be wasted.

At the very least you can try out the live CD.

Hope this helps

Regards

Libs

 

[Asha'man X]

I think you are best off backing up all your data. Format your computer, install the latest service pack for whichever version of Windows you are running, and then any extra patches from Windows Update.

After that, install an AV program (I highly suggest Avast, home edition is free), a good firewall like Comodo (also free, very detailed program), and then SpyBot. Update all of them, and then proceed to start installing all your software and copying your data back.

I know it is a hell of a pain and takes out a whole day or so time wise, but I think that your Windows installation is probably too damaged now to stay reliable. In the end, you may find your computer faster and more responsive, as well as being clean and protected. I recently did the same for a client's computer, as even after being cleaned out, the system was unstable.

Once all of that is done, take your Norton software outside, set it on fire and perform a forgiveness ritual to ask for forgiveness for keeping a bloated company alive and wasting your money. (just kidding of course )

Good luck with whatever you decide and hopefully you'll be back running again soon

 

[HavocXphere]

Google tells me this is a trojan

Your google skillz need some work. First of all, try this.

After that remove these:

AVG, Spyware Detector, Norton Internet Security and Computer Associates Internet Security can't find the trojan,

All of those are resident and conflict if installed together. Remove all of them and restart. Start with the 2 Internet security ones. Once the Problem is resolved download the new AVG (v8 I think) install that and reinstall CA internet sec.

Then type msconfig into Start->Run and disable all the autostart items that you don't need.

After that *carefully* disable all the non-Microsoft services under Control panel->Admin tools-> Services. Note: This step might be dangerous, especially if you don't know what your doing.

My PC takes about 7 or 8 minutes for it to get ready

Time to format. Once an XP PC reaches that point, there is usually little else one can do.

 

[SecretCode]

What do you use your computer for?

Based on that I can give you a recommendation, but I need to know what you use it for.

Ooh! Ooh! I know what you're going to recommend

Can I recommend that you download and try out Ubuntu?

Yup, there it is!

 

[SecretCode]

And more seriously, give Avira a try. Some reviews I read highlighted it as having around the highest detection rate. It's found some stuff on my PC I didn't know about.

But it might not be an infection; you might have a failing HDD or failing RAM.

 

[Surv0]

had this issue for ages, its not a virus or malware, update your windows via the live update, it should sort it out.