Sound problem and windows xp error message

[phughes200]

I have a recurring problem with losing the sound in my applications after receiving the following error:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Error
Event Category: (100)
Event ID: 1000
Date: 9/25/2006
Time: 10:49:10 AM
User: N/A
Computer: SCHOOL
Description:
Faulting application svchost.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x02cdc361.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 73 76 63 ure svc
0018: 68 6f 73 74 2e 65 78 65 host.exe
0020: 20 35 2e 31 2e 32 36 30 5.1.260
0028: 30 2e 32 31 38 30 20 69 0.2180 i
0030: 6e 20 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77 n unknow
0038: 6e 20 30 2e 30 2e 30 2e n 0.0.0.
0040: 30 20 61 74 20 6f 66 66 0 at off
0048: 73 65 74 20 30 32 63 64 set 02cd
0050: 63 33 36 31 c361

This causes the sound to stop. The device manager says there are no conflicts and everything is working. The sound/audio portion of the control panel says that there is no device installed. Restarrting Windows XP fixes it until the error happens angain. After searching the web, I have tried:

1) Uninstalling and reinstalling the sound drivers (the sound chip is an onboard creative chip)

2) Removing and reinstaing Norton Internet Security 2006.

3) Doing a repair installation of Windows XP, sp2.

4) Running spyware checkers and virus checkers. None found except tracking cookies.

5) Running a memory testor.

Any ideas? I am comfortable trying things but am not sure where to start.

Thanks for any help.

Philip

[AnotherMuggle]

Have you made sure that all the drivers you are using are the most recent revisions?

You should check on the creative website for updated drivers as well as the motherboard manufacturers site as they are often more up to date!

[phughes200]

Yes, I updated all drivers. Many times.

[glc]

I know this sounds crazy, but uninstall NIS and leave it uninstalled. See if this fixes it.

[phughes200]

Thanks. At this point, I reformated the drive. Reinstall windows. Created a backup. Installed NIS. If the problem continues, I will restore the backup and can NIS. Also when try to reinstall windows I got a warning that the HD had problems so that was replaced with a spare drive.

[phughes200]

Okay. New drive. New fresh install of xp with all the updates. I still have the problem. My next step is to uninstall Norton Internet Security. Any ideas on why this is happening?

[glc]

NIS is a known system hog and can cause all kinds of weird happenings. There are better alternatives, in fact, better FREE alternatives.

[AnotherMuggle]

If you are looking for a free alternative to NIS then the following are good pieces of software you may like to try:

AVG Free Edition
Spybot Search & Destroy

I use both pieces of software and have done for a long time. I've never had a problem with a virus or spyware.