Constant svchost.exe application errors

[CMeys]

I have 2 computers network through a NetGear router. Suddenly, BOTH systems constantly get an svchost.exe application error when accessing the internet (whether through IE, Outlook Express or otherwise). The exact text of the message on BOTH systems is:
"The instruction at "0x009a06abc" referenced memory at "0x0000000". The memory could not be "written".

I have run virus scans (Norton Anti Virus 2004 with most current virus definitions).

Does anyone what could cause this and how it can be fixed? Pleas help, I am getting desperate!

Thanks.

[CMeys]

An update -- someone suggested that:
"With IE closed, right click the IE icon on the desktop and select Properties. In the window that opens, click the Advanced tab and scroll down to where it shows "Enable third party browser extensions (requires restart)". Is that checked. if so, uncheck it and click Ok to close the window. "

After unchecking "enable third party browser extensions" the problem is MUCH better -- I still get the error, but not constantly. I just ran Adaware with updated definitions and all it found were some tracking cookies (which I've removed). I've got Norton Anti Virus 2004 with current virus definitions and ran a full system scan on both systems and they were clean. These systems are connected with a router and Norton Internet Security with its firewall is also running. I have also tried turning all of that off, but it didn't make a difference.

One important note that I've just seen -- I may get this error when not accessing the web in anyway, but accessing a network place (from one computer to the other). I hope that might give a clue as to something else to look for.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd certainly like to hear them as I'm at the end of my rope with this.

Thanks.

[glc]

I would highly suspect your Norton products - NAV 2004 is known for having issues, and NIS has always been troublesome.

[CMeys]

I had the problem even with both turned off -- and they've been installed for a long time without a problem. Would they need to be uninstalled? And then, what virus and firewall would you recommend?

[glc]

Uninstall them, one at a time - and see what happens. I'd go free - with AVG antivirus and your choice of Zone Alarm 4.5 (NOT 5.x), Sygate, or Kerio firewall.

[Mesaeus]

I don't see it mentioned anywhere, did you install SP2 ?

[CMeys]

You're right, I didn't mention it, but SP2 and all patches have been installed on both systems.

Since my last post I've also run a number of online virus scanners and none have found anything on either system.

I'm really getting frustrated.

If I don't find something soon, I probably will go and uninstall the Norton software as suggested above, but I wonder how that could be the cause since its been working fine for quite a while until the suddenly started.

[Mesaeus]

I only have limited experience with SP2 yet, but it's a good candidate for weird errors like that, especially when networks/internet is involved. I also have had bad experiences with ZoneAlarm 4.5 generating kernel exceptions with SP2 so I had to use the built in firewall. In fact, even when the SP2 install goes fine (I've learned to disable all third party virus scanners and firewalls first), it usually gives me one BSOD before booting perfectly the next time. SP2 is a temperamental beast, so I remain suspicious of it in this case too.

[CMeys]

SP2 has been installed since it came out without any problems, and this just started last night, so I would doubt thats the cause. It also supposedly has things in it that fix some of these kind of errors.

[Mesaeus]

A conflict between SP2 and a third party software can come from two sides, you can get it after installing SP2 and you can get it after installing the third party software. SP2 is a big step forward in security but this goes hugely at the cost of compatibility with older (pre SP2) programs. I'm still discovering new weird incompatibilities between SP2 and other programs, and any computer with weird problems and SP2 automatically makes me look at SP2. If nothing else works, try removing SP2 or reinstalling with only SP1.

But let's forget about SP2. Can you find any errors in the System and Application logs ? They can refer to the program/service doing this.

[CMeys]

I actually did remove SP2 from one system, and it didn't make a difference. I have now found the answer thanks to someone else -- it was a problem with a driver from an HP all-in-one that I am beta testing which caused a probem with the Windows Image Acquisition Service. Disable this service solved the problem temporarily. For a more permanent solution, I will need to uninstall the driver and reinstall on the most basic version of it and then reenable the Service. Thank you for your help.

[glc]

Welcome to the world of betatesting!

A word of advice - before installing *anything* beta - take a restore point!