Svchost.exe and Generic Host Process

This article is devoted to problem with svchost.exe process crash and ways to solve this problem manually or, using specialized tools that will be described here. Svchost crash is a serious problem that harms PC performance and operability.

You can recover from svchost crash using this tool – Svchost Fix Wizard

Download Fix Wizard

In case you want to fix it manually continue reading to the very end. You should know what is real svchost crash and what is fake one that was initiated by malicious activity.

So here is the real one:

Here is the fake one:

Fake svchost.exe crash can be result of infecting with Windows Antivirus Pro or Windows Police Pro or any rogue antivirus from this family. It blocks Task Manager and Registry Editor and solution for this problem is simple – remove rogue application. Couple of anti-spyware tools to help:

True Sword Antispyware
Malwarebytes Antimalware

Dealing with real svchost crash

In case your problem is not connected to the virus or your error looks like it is shown on the first picture you can go ahead and try to detect the reason. To do this click on “click here” link in the error window:

You will see

szAppName – Faulting application in case of generic host process error it will be svchost.exe
szAppVer – version of svchost.exe file.
szModName – faulting module – shows filename that causes the crash
szModVer – version of problematic file
offset – fault address.

If you will look at szModName you will see particular file causing the problem and find associated service. So for example, if file causing the problem is wzcsvc.dll process associated with this file is Wireless Zero Configuration service. You just need to stop it

and disable it on Windows startup so error will very likely disappear.

If the fault module is wininet.dll then you can fix it by applying special hotfix from Microsoft:

Hotfix for svchost wininet.dll problem

or by manually editing registry:

In Registry Editor:

1) Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Feature Control\FEATURE_KEEP_CACHE_INDEX_OPEN_KB899342

2) On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
3) Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER.
4) On the Edit menu, click Modify.
5) Type 1, and then click OK.

Do the same for the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_KEEP_CACHE_INDEX_OPEN_KB899342

I can provide instructions for other files as well, just post your problem in comment section and I will provide a solution.

Svchost and McAfee issue

Another, issue with svchost.exe crash can occur on PCs with MacAfee Security Center installed. After receiving updates you can get svchost error. The workaround is:

1) Restart into Safe Mode with Networking

2) Open a Command Prompt. (Start -> Run -> type “cmd” without quotes -> press Enter)

3) Type

del C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\Engine\avvscan.dat

4) Then type

cd c:\windows\system32\dllcache

5) After this type

copy SvcHost.exe ..\

Reboot your PC and check if error exists.

Svchost and Blaster Worm

Other reason of svchost crash that can look like system problem is W32.Blaster worm. It is wide-spread malware and there bunch of specialized removal tool for it:

Symantec FixBlast

Sophos BlastGUI

Win32.Blaster Removal Tool

Also, you can fix problem with svchost crash using Svchost Fi Wizard that will detect reason of the problem and solve it really quick.

Download Fix Wizard

spooler subsystem app has encountered