Re WMI Provider Host fault

[jj mac]

I first posted on 24/11/07 a problem I am having “WMI Provider Host stopped
workingâ€. That thread has gone cold but I would like to return to the
issue as I have yet to find a resolution thereto. Thinking that McAfee
Spamkiller was causing the problem I have been pursuing the issue with McAfee
without success. I am now convinced that McAfee is not the cause. I came to
that conclusion when the error message was received after carrying out a
clean boot with all the startup items (except Microsoft Services) disabled .
Initially uninstalling SpamKiller appeared to cure the problem but it
returned the following day. Uninstalling and reinstalling SpamKiller also
failed to cure the problem as did a complete reinstallation of all the McAfee
products. I have also uninstalled the Dell Support Centre.
A feature of this fault is that the error message “WMI Provider Host stopped
working and was closed†invariably appears within 5 minutes of Bootup. If I
shut down and restart the computer it will usually reappear within 5 minutes
as before. The same may happen if I repeat that operation a second or even a
third time. Then after booting up the Computer I can surf the internet,
open Windows Mail , use Microsoft Word , Excel and other programs without
getting the error message for the rest of the day.

The following is a record of the occurrences of the error message.

RS= RESTART SD= SHUT DOWN

START FINISH ACTIVITIES ERROR
MESSAGE

12/1/07
9.30 9.45 RS INTERNET YES
5 min. after Start
9.45 9.50 SD DESKTOP only YES 5
min. after Restart
21.55 23.15 SD INTERNET, WINDOWS
MAIL, EBAY ETC.
NO
13/1/07
11.40 11.45 SD DESKTOP only YES 5
min. after Start
11.48 14 54 RS DESKTOP, INTERNET,
MAIL, GOOGLE ETC. NO
14.54 19.45 SD DESKTOP, MAIL ETC NO
21.00 23.00 SD DESKTOP only NO

14/1/07
12.40 12.50 SD DESKTOP, M/S WORD YES 5 min.
after Start
( Also during this period McAfee & Media Centre updates were received)
13.00 13.16 RS DESKTOP, M/S WORD YES 5 min.
after Start
13.16 13.22 SD MICROSOFT MAIL YES 5 min.
after Restart
13.26 13.54 RS INTERNET ETC. At 13.50
McAfee

Proxy Service module

stopped working &

was closed.
This
additional error was encountered
only once

13.54 16.11 SD DESKTOP,EMAIL, ETC NO
16.32 18.35 SD DESKTOP,EMAIL, ETC NO
20.05 22.30 SD INTERNET ETC. NO

15/1/07
11.00 11.17 SD EMAIL YES
5 min. after Start
11.20 13.20 SD DESKTOP, EBAY ETC NO
15.15 18.OO SD EMAIL,MS WORD ETC NO

15/1/07
11.45 11.55 SD EMAIL, DESKTOP YES 5 min
after start
12.00 12.05 SD DESKTOP YES
in 3 min after start
12.10 12.33 RS DESKTOP YES
in 3 min after start
12.33 13.05 SD INTERNET YES 5
min. after Restart
13.10 14.03 SD INTERNET NO
14.09 23.00 SD INTERNET, MS WORD NO

I have examined the Task Scheduler to see if I could identify a Task which
starts up on first bootup which might be responsible for the error. If no
error is present when McAfee updates come through they do not cause any error
to show.
On opening the Task Scheduler I get an error message "The task image is
corrupt or has been tampered with, mcupdate." Even so VirusScan appears to be
updating correctly as does the Media centre although there must be something
amiss somewhere.
In the Task Scheduler library I deleted three tasks with “last time run “
shown as “never†although they were designated to run on a fixed date each
month. These were McQcTask,McDefragTask & SpywareBot. There are now only
nine tasks listed which are triggered to run when the task is created or
modified.
I was unable to identify any scheduled tasks which might be causing the fault.

I now think that this problem may be caused by Windows Vista.

I would be grateful for any help in finding a resolution to this problem

Thank You


OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Version 6.0.6000 Build 6000
System Model Dell DM061
System Type X86-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86GHz, 1862 Mhz, 2
Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 2.3.2, 30/03/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Total Physical Memory 2,045.32 MB
Available Physical Memory 985.63 MB
Total Virtual Memory 4.21 GB
Available Virtual Memory 2.69 GB

 

[patrickem]

I have a brand new Dell XPS 420 that has started throwing the WMI Provider
Host stopped working and was closed message.

I do not have anything unusual on the system...only software updates have
been run and no additional software has been added.

I do not have Mcafee but do have Norton Protection Center.

Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ultimate
Dell XPS Studio 420
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6850 @ 3.00GHz
4GB RAM

 

[jj mac]

That’s interesting. I wonder if all Dell Computers are prone to this fault.
I purchased my Dell Computer in March last year. The fault first appeared at
the beginning of November after I had installed an updated version of the
Dell Support Centre. However, uninstalling the Support Centre did not clear
the fault.
On my Computer the error message pops up about 5 minutes after first boot up
but if I shut down & reboot 3 times (occasionally 4 times is needed) I do not
receive the error after the third (or forth) reboot for the rest of that day.
Checking in “view problem history†(Problem Reports and Solutions)
indicates that no further instance of the fault is recorded. Would the same
sequence be followed on your Computer? . If so, I would read that to
indicate that the problem is probably caused by some hidden program starting
up each day on first bootup (eg the downloading of virus updates). However,I
cannot identify any such program .
I hope you have more success than I am having at finding a resolution to
this problem.
If so, please share it in this forum.

 

[patrickem]

The problem occurred over three reboots the first night and an initial boot
up the next night...since then it has not recurred...it never showed up in
Problem Reports and Solutions...I would like to be able to tell you what
caused it to go away...at this point I am just keeping my fingers crossed
that it does not return. Its possible it could have been a failed or
incomplete Norton update because like your situation, it happened shortly
after loading Windows...

 

[jj mac]

Tripletax

Many thanks for that information.
I am pleased to note that Microsoft are at least aware of the problem and
are doing something about it. They must have some misgivings about the half
baked hotfix they have currently available when they recommend that it
should only be installed if severely affected by the issue. If not severely
affected to wait for the next service pack which will contain the hotfix. I
will be happy to do that.
Thanks again
Regards

 

[AlanP]

I to have Windows Vista Home Premium using a Dell XPS1710 and have the same
problems with WMI.
I retreived the patch mentioned by tripletaz kb935553 and when I ran it, the
patch informed me that "The Update does not apply to my system"...
I have McAfee but have always had the Spam Filter turned Off.
I have also tried a suggestion of turning off Windows Management
Instrumentation - that creates a whole host of other problems.
I look forward to hearing about a valid solution.

 

[ravi]

Hi,
I am having a problem exactly, or at least very similiar, to the ones
reported here. I have a Dell XPS 1330 with windows Vista Home Premium.
I give below the details from the diagonostics of the problem in the events
viewer. The details are in Swedish but should be interpretable for someone
knowledgeable about this problem :

Problemsignatur
Händelsenamn: APPCRASH
Programnamn: wmiprvse.exe
Programversion: 6.0.6000.16386
Programtidsstämpel: 4549af45
Namn på felmodul: StackHash_c9d6
Modulens version: 6.0.6000.16386
Tidsstämpel för felmodul: 4549bdc9
Undantagskod: c0000374
Undantagsförskjutning: 000af1c9
OS-version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3
Språkvariant-ID: 1053
Ytterligare information 1: c9d6
Ytterligare information 2: 32601128990215e13ed2ff5bda997d6d
Ytterligare information 3: 6f23
Ytterligare information 4: d9c2eb8314b44b949633d22e1f04595b

Extra information om problemet
Bucket-ID: 347719248

I have onenote installed on my pc but have not used it at all. Can this be
the source of my problem which I have every single time that I start my pc. I
have requested the hotfix solution to be mailed to me. But is that a solution
for me? I would like the experts to comment. What else can I do to get rid of
this irritating problem?
Thank you,
Ravi

 

[ravi]

Hi,
I have now found that the hotfix solution turned out to be a dud, at least
for me.
On trying out the downloaded zip file, I got a message that it was not
applicable for my computer! Can somebody find a solutution for me. I get this
problem message on the WMI provider host every time I start. Sometimes twice,
one after the another. As I mentioned earlier, I have a Dell XPS 1330 with
windows vista home premium.
Thank you,
Ravi