Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Error

What to Do When Win XP Encounters Error and Has to Shut Down

Dec 19, 2008 C. Varada Rajan

Here is one solution for the Windows XP error: "Generic host process for Win32 services has encountered an error and has to shut down".

As the technology of computers, operating systems, security issues and the interaction of application programs with the operating systems becomes more and more complicated, problems associated with the technology and finding solutions to them also become equally complicated.

Adding fuel to the fire, many times, hackers and virus program writers seem to be smarter than Microsoft software specialists in finding loopholes in the security aspects of Windows OS and play havoc with it. Another reality is that there are always some petty omissions and commissions, bugs and faults in software coding which tend to emerge under practical working conditions. So there are always revisions, upgrades, “service packs” and so on, issued periodically from Microsoft and other software vendors.

In such a complex scenario, no one really seems to be an expert in giving the right solution to any specific computer oriented problem, be it a hardware vendor, the software vendor, the Anti-Virus software supplier or the Internet service provider.

In Search of Solution for Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Error

This writer was living with one such problem in his computer for almost 18 months, groping unsuccessfully to get a solution to the problem. After connecting to the Internet through DSL and browsing the internet for a while, the system will simply hang. The DSL connection icon at the bottom right corner of the computer, when clicked to know the status, will momentarily appear on screen and disappear immediately. Neither the connection status can be known nor be closed. Then the above error (“Generic Host Process for Win 32 services…..”) will appear.

The Internet can not be connected again until and unless rebooting is done. When the user next connects to the internet they cannot be sure if, and when the same problem will resurface again.

Each solution to the above problem (or a suggestion about the cause of the problem) only ended up in running from pillar to post with no headway. This is how the merry-go-round was working:

  • The computer service engineer says that it is not a hardware or software problem, but it is to do with the DSL connection.
  • The DSL service provider says it is a virus problem.
  • The Virus program, even after latest updating, does not report any virus or spyware.
  • The Service Engineer suggests a full reformat and reloading of the operating system and application programs. He makes sure that Service Pack 2 is installed for Windows XP.
  • The problem goes away for a while, but returns to haunt the user soon!

Hunt for a Solution in the Internet

When none of the service providers could offer a solution, the next hunt was naturally in the internet, by searching the various discussion forums of various websites for a clue. Funnily, many of the solutions discussed in those forums were suggesting virus removal or reformatting and reinstallation of the OS!

A Solution at Microsoft Security Updates

And at last, there was one suggestion to try out Security Update Patches of Microsoft. This writer, having exhausted all the other avenues, decided to look for and try Microsoft security updates issued (post SP3) and downloaded the following two updates:

KB921883

KB958644

After installation of the above two updates, the problem got solved once for all!

So it was not hardware, it was not DSL, it was not a Virus, it was not a Spyware, but some incorrectly resolved security issue of the grand old Microsoft which made one to suffer for almost 18 months.

The copyright of the article Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Error in Computer Software is owned by C. Varada Rajan. Permission to republish Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Error in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Comments

Dec 28, 2008 9:57 PM
Guest :
Thanks!
Dec 28, 2008 9:57 PM
Guest :
Thanks!
Jan 8, 2009 11:11 PM
Guest :
Thank you very much. Had this problem for months and no solution until now!
Jan 9, 2009 5:05 AM
Guest :
thanx,but i'm afraid to download these.are they safe?also i'm suffering from another priblem also. i'm using wireless cdma connection for net surfing.as soon as i connect to net i god BSOD with stop error message 0x0000008E and alot of other numbers.i need help. if u can please do.
srivastavahem@rediffmail.com
Jan 10, 2009 5:26 PM
Guest :
Thank you very much for the links to the solution. I've had this error for a little while now and it's interfered with all the main components I use my PC for: Internet, Audio and Firewalls.

To add on:
The first link seems to be the appropriate fix for SP2 users, as linked by many others for past couple years, while the second is was I needed for SP3.

After installing the Security Update and immediately rebooting, the problem still persisted and the error popped up again. On a whim I tried a fix I had read about prior to this one that failed on it's own.

If installing the Security Update doesn't work for you as well, try: Go to Start > Run
then type 'CMD' (without the ' )
type 'netsh' (without the ' )
type 'winsock' (without the ' )
finally, type 'reset' (without the ' )

Reboot once again. My PC was cured after this. If the problem persists, I suggest searching for other fixes such as editing the Registry as seen on other sites for SP2. Hopefully, that won't be the case.

-J. R.
5 Comments