Services stopping on Windows XP

[Guest]

I have an issue in my user population (about 400 users) all running Windows
XP SP2 with latest updates (via WSUS). A number have reported loss of
connectivity and upon investigation a number of services set to automatic
have stopped including but not exclusively Windows Time, Automatic Updates,
Browser Service , Server Service and bizarrely Windows Audio. Occasionally a
reboot sorts the problem but frequently direct intervention and restart of
the affected services is required. All are running Mcafee virus checker
(with latest updates and patches), Windows Firewall is switched off
(firewalling is provided by hardware firewalls). This is becoming a rather
urgent issue as it appears to be affecting everyone eventually though not in
any recognisable pattern.

In desperation I have even run several other virus checkers on an affected
system with no results so I'm reasonably sure it isn't viral.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[R. McCarty]

Is there any useful entries in the affected machine's System Event
log ? McAfee has a long history of releasing updates/defs that
have unintended results. Without details - I'd direct my attention
to McAfee.

 

[Guest]

Is there any useful entries in the affected machine's System Event
log ? McAfee has a long history of releasing updates/defs that
have unintended results. Without details - I'd direct my attention
to McAfee.

Frustratingly no, nothing that even indicates that anything untoward has
taken place. No odd processes running via taskmgr, no unexpected network
activity.

To be honest I wouldn't be especially surprised to learn it was McAfee, I'll
take a look....

 

[Guest]

Frustratingly no, nothing that even indicates that anything untoward has
taken place. No odd processes running via taskmgr, no unexpected network
activity.

To be honest I wouldn't be especially surprised to learn it was McAfee, I'll
take a look....

A bump for this, it's just getting worse. Updated the Mcafee to Patch 13
but still seem to have the problem appear randomly across the user
population.

 

[Guest]

Update for this, disabling Automatic Updates service stops the other services
stopping. After re-enabling Auto Updates and rebooting an affected machine
updates come down and the services do not stop again until the next lot of
updates from WSUS.

I have a sneaking suspician this may be more widespread than first
appreciated, one of the services stopping is Windows Audio and if you have a
look there are an awful lot of users reporting sound problems after updates.

This appears to be affecting most if not all of my user base so if anyone
has any ideas they would be appreciated.

 

[sting7777]

We are having this same issue - let me know if you find a solution and
I will do the same. Are you using Windows Firewall?

 

[Guest]

Nope, hardware Firewall on the network......

 

[Guest]

Sting, MS have pointed me in the direction of this fix:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089

It fixes a 'known issue' with SVCHOST maxing out the processor, however as I
have the nasty feeling our issue is tied in with SVCHOST and Auto Updates
then it can't hurt to apply it.

Fingers Crossed!

 

[sting7777]

thanks for the update - I'm trying to find a way to reliably reproduce
the problem so that I can prove that the fix works...

 

[Guest]

thanks for the update - I'm trying to find a way to reliably reproduce
the problem so that I can prove that the fix works...

Disappointingly it didn't work for us, back to the drawing board (and
disabling Auto Updates until we can find a resolution)