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svchost.exe – Application Error
The instruction at “0x745f2780” referenced memory at “0x00000000”. The memory could not be “read”.
Problem:
Every time you boot up, you get error messages with the above wording. Once these errors appear, most of your network services stop. If you open Services (Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services) you can see the stopped services and restart them and everything works again. However, within a few minutes, you will notice in Task Manager that an SVCHOST.exe process goes to 100% and soon afterwards the 2 error messages appear again and all of the services stop. You can repeat this all day. In fact, I did.
I discovered that if you don’t start the Automatic Update service everything else will remain running and the error does not return.
This problem is especially prevelant on new Dell GX620 computers but has also been seen on other computers. Some articles mention a problem with HP printer drivers but in this instance, it is clearly related to the Automatic Updates. Some articles also mention a correlation with the Windows Firewall – the problem appears when you turn off the firewall and goes away if you turn it back on. I have not been able to repeat this.
I managed to install all current updates from MicrosoftUpdate.com and then turned the Automatic Updates service back on and everything seems fine. This might just be because the Automatic Updates service currently has nothing to do. We shall see.
Let me know if you have something to add: svchost@kuhnline.com
Solution:
Disable the Automatic Updates service. This is ultimately a bad idea unless you plan to update manually. Most people don’t. But at least you can use your computer until Microsoft comes up with a fix for whatever broke this time.
Update – 10-16-2006
Microsoft has finally released a Hotfix for the problem but you have to call them to get it.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089
Update – 2007
This site has some information that may help further.
http://ask-leo.com/c011472.html
Examples From Event Log:
Event ID 1000
Faulting application svchost.exe, version 5.1.2600.2180, faulting module msi.dll, version 3.1.4000.2435, fault address 0x00012780.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Event ID 1004
Faulting application svchost.exe, version 0.0.0.0, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x00000000.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.