svchost scan needed?

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bit4bit

New Member
what would the best svchost scanner be? I can find some on google but I want to know what you recommend for FREE that has worked well for you?

I keep getting an error something like this when I shut down my pc:

svchost application error
the instruction 0x00230F at memory reference 0x10530D could not be read
click OK to terminate the program.

not sure exactly about those hex figures ( I didn't write them down), but the message is something similar. I think maybe a svchost scan will sort it out? also whenever I try to change my desktop background to black (using no wallpaper) it crashes: The program is not responding....blah blah.

Im using XP service pack 2, thanks
 
The svchost.exe file is being hungup by some program or background activity like a device driver not closing down properly. The problems seen when changing desktop settings would suggest video drivers as a likely culprit. That's probably what is remaining stuck when trying to shut the system down.

One method requiring a restart of the system to put things into effect is the use of the msconfig utility to disable items so they don't automatically load along with Windows. Microsoft put that in as a troubleshooting tool that often does just that. By going into the startup group and disabling items there you may find the one causing this. ATI and NVidia alike will have some one or more items there as well as in the services tab.

All of the startup items can be disabled without stalling Windows by accidently disabling any essential background services. The error message itself points at either a device or software driver where this method is usually the best place to start. Simply type in msconfig at the Run prompt and press enter pr click the ok button to bring a new screen. The last tab on the right is for the startup items.
 
thanks I knew about the msconfig already, cos I use it to turn off things like nero from starting up, but I don't know what graphics driver I need to change?

I have ATI drivers and an ATI radeon card. but it's only happened in the last few days and ive done a scan with superantispyware, and norton internet security, and my disk is compressed fine, so I dont know why it just decided to stop shutting down the driver when I shut down the PC?

also the ms config will stop it from coming at start-up, but dont I need to change it so that it is stopped at shut-down? also I cant see any new entriesx in the startup tab, but here it is:
startupkv0.jpg


(all the others out of view are disabled)
do you need me to post the services too? but I cant maxim ise the window, so Ill have to post about 6 or 7 screenshots.

also instead of all this, are you sure there isnt just a svchost scan I can do, to find the error?

thanks alot btw
 
The svchost.exe file is strictly one MS file used for launching the different programs and not a problem other then seeing any copy of that file in any location other then the Windows\system32 folder. Outside of that means a virus or trojan. The problem is some driver is refusing to unload completely.

The idea of disabling all startup items and then re-enabling one at a time is to see if you can identify whether it's ATI or some software driver from a program installed causing this. You want to pin point the offender there and remove it. Often that means uninstalling a program to see a corrupted driver or invalid entry in the system registry corrected with a clean install later of that program or even driver update.

What model Radeon is that? If you are running an older AGP model like a 9600 or 9800 model the newer Catalyst drivers are for newer models as the Radeon 9xxx series is no longer supported. That's a drawback with ATI dropping their support fast for older cards. It could very well be the Norton software too hanging on shutdown or hte Superantispyware. For a better set of tools AVG, Ad-Aware, Spyware Terminator(has a mild firewall), and SPybot Search+Destroy are better alternatives.
 
thanks alot for the detailed reply PC eye, I think I understand you, so svchost is basically a windows process that loads selected applications on to the windows OS, and then shuts them down safely when you specify it? and in my case you think svchost is failing to shut down my graphic driver, or norton antivirus? ok I think I understand that

so I only need to the svchost scan if the svchost file is found outside of the system32 folder, because it might be a virus/trojan etc..? thats ok then cos its only inside the folder for me.

also last time I shut my PC down after I posted here, then I didnt even get the error messgae at all, but well see what happens later today cos I still have problems changing the desktop background color. I thnik I disabled the Nero check before I made that screenshot, so maybe it was that, but that doesnt have anything to do with the graphics driver so I dont know?

btw my graphics card is ATI radeon X700 series, but in my device manager I have listed that, and also RADEON X700 series secondary too, but I only have one graphics card??

also I dont really want to get rid of Norton cos it cost me alot of money last year to buy it, so I might as well use it till it runs out, but I will use those others after that then if you think theyre better? Super antispyware is not on the start up list anyway, in fact I hardly ever even open it, I just opened it to do a scan to see if this error could be a spyware related, or something.

thanks mate ;)
 
AVG, Avast while some are now going with AVG instead and a few others are free editions for home use as far as antivirus programs. If you look in the processes tab found on the task manager when hitting the crtl-alt-del keys or a simple right click on the Start Menu's task bar in a blank area you will see the option for that there.

Depending the amount of items running you will normally see the svchost.exe listed several times when running normally. When you see a large number when only having very few programs installed then suspect the worst like a trojan at that time. The file is more or less the Windows process manager. As far as the secondary ATI listing that should be seen since that's part of the normal ATI driver set.
 
thanks again, Im now certain that its bad drivers for my radeon x700 causing this. I started up steam to play CSS, and it says, 'you will have problems if you continue and open the game cos youve got outdated/bad drivers', or something like that (not exactly what I written). so I went to the radeon site, chose my OS (winxp pro sp2) and it took me here,

http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/xp/radeonx-xp.html

so I downloaded the first package, and then followed the installation notes here,

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=20870
(first page: http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=20870)

I went to add/remove programs>ATI unistall utility>change/remove: just like the guide syas (step 2) and then rebooted afterwards. then I checked the program list again, and there was no other ati programs listed at all, and there was no entry called DAO either like they said there would be. I had no error messages while uninstalling either.

so then I went forward to install the new drivers, and when I went opened the original file (catalyst software suite) I downloaded, and hit install I get this message:

errorzd4.jpg


(this is after the first short installation routine, before it takes me to the actual ati install wizard, which I just quit in case I cause some damge)
even though I have uninstalled the original drivers and there is no more left to remove. it says I should turn of my internet security before I did the install, which I also did (live update turned off on norton).

so I have no idea what to do??? I went through the long process to try and send them a 'ticket' to the technical support, and at the last step, a required field was to select your radeon model, and X700 wasnt there, only two or three models were there in fact! :mad:
 
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OMG, the error message was for steam lol! :D

I just deselected steam to be installed :P
I got the new drivrs installed now, so Im gonna configure them and see if Im still havin some problems. Ill get back if I do.

thanks for all the advice mate really appreciate it,
bit4bit
 
Just be careful to go by the OS seletor there since the Catalyst 7.xx series updates are Vista not XP. But it seems you were able to id the problem fast enough. Steam is certainly touchy on drivers for sure. That will happen with Half Life, HL2, and others often.
 
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